Miley Cyrus Wanted to Turn This Cult-Favorite Nicolas Cage Movie Into a Musical

Miley Cyrus Wanted to Turn This Cult-Favorite Nicolas Cage Movie Into a Musical

As a movie enthusiast with a soft spot for offbeat cinema and a penchant for the bizarre, I must admit that the prospect of a musical adaptation of the 2018 masterpiece Mandy has me both intrigued and slightly apprehensive. Having witnessed the sheer intensity and raw emotion Nicolas Cage poured into his portrayal of Red, I can’t help but wonder how one would encapsulate such ferocity in a musical setting.


Actor Nicolas Cage has delivered gonzo performances in dozens of movies, but his turn as Red in 2018’s Mandy resulted in a picture that managed to impress not only genre audiences but also excited viewers at the Sundance and Cannes film festivals. Performer Miley Cyrus was so impressed with the experience that she even toyed with finding a way to translate to movie into a musical, one which would see her taking on the role made famous by Cage. That project never came to fruition, but Cyrus ultimately collaborated with Mandy director Panos Cosmatos on her upcoming album and also named one of her dogs Mandy.

Cyrus expressed to Harper’s Bazaar, “I was keen on portraying Nicolas Cage. His role offers an intriguing blend of romance and revenge, two themes that have always captivated me as they are at the heart of some of the most compelling tragedies.

In the cinematic world, I, a movie enthusiast, find myself immersed in a tale set in the tranquil Pacific Northwest. Me and my significant other, Mandy (portrayed by Andrea Riseborough), live a life secluded from the world’s hustle. Tragedy strikes when Mandy is kidnapped by the fanatic cult, Children of the New Dawn. Miraculously, she manages to break free at first, but the cult demands retribution for her rebellion. The consequences are dire, leaving me bereft and enraged over my lost love. To make matters worse, a torrent of cocaine fuels my vengeful spirit, driving me to seek retribution against those who wronged us.

Mandy receives a high rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and was included in several top lists of 2018. While Cosmatos’ previous film, 2010’s Beyond the Black Rainbow, didn’t receive as much universal praise, its unusual storyline and mesmerizing, psychedelic visuals made the director a notable figure among fans of the genre. Later on, Cosmatos teamed up with Guillermo del Toro for the Netflix series Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, reteaming with Aaron Stewart-Ahn (his co-writer from Mandy) for the episode “The Visit.

Despite their musical reinvention not succeeding, Cosmatos and Cyrus are still working together on her new album. This publication suggested that the album is just as visually appealing as it is musically sound.

Cyrus emphasized that the concept originated from ‘The Wall’ by Pink Floyd,” he explained. “We embraced it wholeheartedly, and for me, it holds a special emotional connection… My vision was to create something similar, but with a more stylish wardrobe, a glamorous touch, and infused with pop culture elements.

Cosmatos stated, “This album is more exploratory than any other work she’s created, yet it maintains a catchy pop vibe that I adore.

Despite the notion that a gruesome revenge story turned into a musical may appear far-fetched, 2003 marked the emergence of “Evil Dead the Musical“, transforming the happenings of Sam Raimi’s films into an animated stage production.

Stay tuned for updates on the possible future of Mandy.

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2024-11-24 22:09