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Nicolas Cage Says He Always Celebrates Finishing His Movies With a Bucket of KFC Chicken

Some prefer popcorn and maybe a coke while watching a movie, but for Nicolas Cage, it’s a different story. According to the veteran actor, he likes KFC and champagne. During an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, the Ghost Rider actor said it all goes back to a childhood memory. 

“I was nine years old, and my father brought home a bucket of Colonel Sanders original recipe and a bottle of champagne,” Cage said. “The combination of this Americanized tempura chicken and champagne was absolutely unforgettable. I don’t know if I’d recommend doing that with anyone’s 9-year-old, but it was fun at the time!”

Now, decades later, 57-year-old Cage hadn’t lost his love for KFC that his dad, August Coppola — author and brother of The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola — introduced to him long before he became a household name. 

“Whenever I make a movie, it’s my wrap present to myself,” he confessed. “At the end of the movie, I’ll go and get a bucket of original recipe and that’s how I celebrate.”

In fact, Nicolas Cage went straight to the famous chicken chain after finishing his latest project, Pig, which hits theaters on July 16. Cage plays Rob, a chef-turned-truffle hunter who lives alone in the woods with only his pet pig. When his four-legged friend is stolen in the dead of night, Rob makes a trek to find his pig.  

The Odd Flavor Combo Loved by Nicolas Cage: KFC & Champagne

While Nicolas Cage does share the screen with other human actors, his strongest connection is with the other starring character, played by a pig named Brandy.

“She’s no longer with us, sadly,” he says of his co-star. “We got our best work in terms of her soulful gaze and meeting the right marks when there was a bit of food she could look at or go towards. I really love animals, and it’s always a pleasure for me to work with them, whether it be a pig or a horse or a dog. I enjoy those experiences.” 

Off-camera, Nicolas Cage is known for having various reptiles as pets. He’s owned a pair of king cobras that he once credited with influencing his acting. 

“The thing that I’ve noticed with most reptiles is that they just want to be left alone,” he said. “Like, ‘Please don’t pick me up, just go away.’ There are times when all of us feel a little like that.” 

As for the KFC and champagne, if you’re looking to pair a movie with another food option, Cage also has another recommendation. “I make a pretty good seafood arrabbiata pasta,” he says. “Cooking is timing: that’s really your main tool,” he notes wisely. “Most people have a really good time with my dish. I’m proud of it.”