We recently had the honor of speaking with the legendary Nicolas Cage for his latest film, Universal Pictures’ RENFIELD.

The Academy Award Winning actor, that is going through a career renaissance after the amazing PIG and THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT, was incredibly amicable and insightful.

Watch the video interview (with Spanish subtitles) and/or read the extremely interesting exchange below, where Cage shares his thoughts on Dracula, Nicholas Hoult, his approach to acting, and more.

The horror action-comedy, directed by Chris McKay and written by Ryan Ridley and Robert Kirkman, also stars Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Brandon Scott Jones, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Adrian Martinez.

RENFIELD opens this Friday, April 14, in theaters nationwide.

Mr. Cage it’s such an honor to speak to you sir. I’m part of the Hollywood Critics Association’s leadership. So, I want to thank you for coming to our ceremony last year, The Film Awards, to accept the Acting Achievement Award. You gave us this fantastic speech. In that speech you said “I’m forever your student of film performance.” So I have to ask you, in the making of this film, Renfield, what did you learn?

Well, first of all, thank you so much for that night. That was a really lovely night with so many marvelous actors, filmmakers and journalists in one house. So thank you.
Yeah, my goal is to stay a student and to learn and to hopefully evolve and stay interested. Stay even uncomfortable to try to find something. When I first worked with Nick Hoult, it was on a movie called The Weatherman, and I was starring, and he was supporting. And I knew then -he was playing my son- the confidence he had as a film actor, but I was very excited to get back on set with Nick because of the star he subsequently became, but also because as Dracula I’m supporting Nick. Because of that, I took that seriously: To be a supporting actor means to support your lead, and I didn’t have a whole lot of rehearsal time with Nick Hoult.

So just, sort of whenever I could be on set with him, whether it was a makeup test or a wardrobe test, I would throw lines at him. Neither one of us were fully off-book but we would sort of ping-pong and I could see… First of all, I was stunned by his comedic timing. I didn’t know about that when we did The Weatherman. But also that he could turn on a dime and be vulnerable and be tragic. And so in that, I knew, because of what flavors Nick Holt was bringing, what I could bring. And so, what I learned was in the role of supporting actor, how to support my star and cultivate like a dance so that they become one. And that really is on display at its fullest in the studio apartment scene, where Dracula is visiting Renfield. You could see that, you know, the dance, that we were both picking up off of each other and I was supporting him.

That’s great! I really love this take on Dracula because I think it’s kind of the most human version that I remember seeing. It’s kind of a manifestation of our dark side in terms of human nature. What do you think that this character illuminates in that regard, on that narcissistic, toxic side that we all have inside?

I think that what you’re pointing out here -which I think is really insightful- is exactly why, in my view, Dracula is such a compelling character. Not only in the novel, but in cinema, because although it’s a supernatural character, it’s really speaking to the human experience. You could supplant an addiction to whiskey or heroin or sex with an addiction to blood, and then see that Dracula is struggling with this addiction. Also, Dracula is a character to me who was always an example of love in exile, not “love and exile”: That he’s unrequited love, and when you don’t get the love back, you go bad. And I think that’s something people can find compelling in the human experience, whether they know it consciously or subconsciously. And then, in this particular story, you’re dealing with that, which is the toxic relationship: Whether it be a boss and employee at the office, or even in a love affair that’s gone bad and now it’s no longer about love but a kind of ugly ownership, or possessiveness happens all too often in relationships. Although this movie is funny and scary, it also has a heart and it does have some compassion dealing with those relevant and timely issues.

Why do you think that these latest films and roles are connecting so much with the audience and with critics? I mean, Pig is just amazing, Massive Talent, etc. Do you think that it’s mainly because they arrived at this perfect time In your career, where you are able to bring your life and professional experience to them?

I think if anything, it’s that student approach that I’ve genuinely tried to learn, and to evolve with what I could do in film performance. And I have been blessed to have a group of film enthusiasts who have stayed with me for a very long time, through ups and downs, because I think that they know that I we are kindred in together, kindred spirits, and that we both… we all are excited about the possibilities with film and film performance, and that there can be a vicarious exchange. If I can stay truthful to that quest, and be the student and try to bring things that are organic and authentic, they’re going to get that exchange with me and that will keep us going together.

It has been an honor. I’m a big fan of Superman. I would like to see you as Jor-El in the next film.

Oh, Jor-El. That’s a good one! I haven’t thought of that. That’s not bad!!!

Let’s make it happen. Thank you so much!

Thank you.

Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency.