Nicolas Cage Knows He's An Internet Icon

It’s no secret that the Internet loves Nicolas Cage. The actor’s deep commitment to excitable, often distressed characters is fodder for countless memes and GIFs. And we mean countless.

The directors and co-star of his latest effort, a pot-boiler called “The Trust” making the rounds at this year’s South By Southwest conference in the film block, visited TheWrap’s Austin, Texas, studio and revealed that Cage is more than in on the joke.

“He’s deeply aware of that, and not afraid to talk about it. In a way, I think he does feel a sense of pride because ultimately whether people are creating a meme about his work, they’re appreciating it,” said Elijah Wood, who plays an embittered crime scene investigator planning a heist with Cage’s world-weary police officer.

Also Read: SXSW Co-Founder Louis Meyers Dies in Austin at 60

“It’s all appreciation, it’s all love. There’s a whole generation of people who are post-Internet and they all love him. Because there’s no one like him,” Wood explained.

The film’s directors, coveted music video helmers and brothers Alex and Ben Brewer, said that self-awareness translates on camera.

“We would emphasis that a lot of stuff is pure affection,” Ben said. “But as a filmmaker you think — it challenges you because he’s tracking his character in a way that’s very sophisticated. You have to get on his level.”

Also Read: SXSW Party Report: Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil Wayne, Kate Bosworth Join Barack Obama in Austin (Photos)

Cage’s shareability also gave “The Trust” some buzz prior to its Sunday SXSW premiere — the first time feature directors had their movie poster made over by the actor’s digital diehards to look like the Super Mario Bros.

Get TheWrap’s full SXSW 2016 coverage here.

11 Buzziest Films Hitting SXSW 2016 (Photos)

Claire in Motion

Betsy Brandt gets a front-and-center chance to shine in "Claire in Motion," a mystery drama about a math professor seeking answers behind her husband's disappearance. When her investigation leads her a to mysterious grad student who forged a close bond with her husband, nothing in Claire's life will be the same.
Midnight Special

Jeff Nichols' contribution to the superheroes-for-grownups genre has buzz echoing from Los Angeles all the way to the Austin Convention Center. Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst and Adam Driver star in this tale of a father on the run with his young son, who happens to be burdened with special powers.
Everybody Wants Some

Richard Linklater moves a decade ahead in his quest to capture the desires of a group of young friends. This time it's the 1980s, and the college romp stars Will Brittain, Zoey Deutch, Ryan Guzman and Tyler Hoechlin.
The Other Half

Tatiana Maslany gets a much-needed break in "The Other Half," as the actress was only hired to play one character -- a vacation from her clone-heavy "Orphan Black." Here she stars as a bipolar woman in love with a grieving man (Tom Cullen) attempting to live a normal life.
Keanu

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are on the threshold of a major mainstream breakthrough. The announcement of the “work-in-progress” screening of their first feature film “Keanu" made national headlines. The comedy centers around two friends who lose an adorable cat to a vicious gang. And if you need proof of pedigree for SXSW comedies -- "Bridesmaids" and "Trainwreck" also screened as work-in-progress titles at the festival.
Sausage Party

Social media and studio backlots can't stop chatting about the very adult animated movie coming from Seth Rogen and company, "Sausage Party." It's about phallic shaped food come to life, use your imagination.
The Bandit

A look into the life, relationships and exclusive archive of TV and movie star Burt Reynolds and his late stuntman Hal Needham.
In a Valley of Violence

There's no word yet on Ti West's "In a Valley of Violence." An impressive cast in Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga and John Travolta gives cred to the Blumhouse title, though some indicators say the slapstick violence could lead the film to cult status.
A Stray

"A Stray" packs a double punch of being both topical and potentially devastating. "Captain Philips" star Barkhad Abdirahman stars as a Muslim refugee in Minneapolis who tries outrun his past but then meets a stray dog.
Tower

Keith Maitland's documentary seems on-trend given numerous titles at Sundance 2016 that deal with gun violence -- but does them one better by revisiting America's first contemporary mass shooting. This one occurred in 1966 at the University of Texas Tower, and inspired a community to heal together.
The Space in Between - Marina Abramovic and Brazil

Performance artist Marina Abramovic brought the house down in her contemporary doc "The Artist is Present." Now she's on the road seeking sages, solace and inspiration for new work in "The Space in Between - Marina Abramovic and Brazil."