Nicolas Cage clears up the Superman myth behind his son’s name

For years, many fans have assumed that Nicolas Cage named his son Kal El as a tribute to Superman. The theory seemed logical. Cage is one of Hollywood’s most famous comic book enthusiasts and was once set to play the Man of Steel in the cancelled film Superman Lives. However, the Oscar winning actor has now insisted that the popular belief is not true.

Speaking in a recent interview, Cage explained that his decision had nothing to do with admiration for Superman. Instead, he said he was drawn to the name because of its meaning and sound long before people connected it to the iconic DC Comics character.

According to Cage, Kal El is a name with Hebrew origins that translates to “Voice of God”. He described it as a beautiful name and said that was the primary reason he chose it for his son, who was born in 2005 during his marriage to Alice Kim.

The clarification comes as interest in Cage’s connection to Superman continues to endure decades after one of Hollywood’s most famous cancelled productions. During the 1990s, director Tim Burton and Cage were developing Superman Lives, a film that ultimately never reached production despite extensive preparation. Images and footage from costume tests later surfaced online, giving fans a glimpse of what might have been.

The abandoned project became a major piece of entertainment history and helped fuel assumptions about Cage’s son’s name. Because Kal El is Superman’s Kryptonian birth name in comic book lore, many people concluded that the actor must have named his child after the superhero he nearly portrayed on screen.

Cage, however, said the connection was coincidental rather than intentional. He explained that while he enjoyed comic books growing up, Superman was not his primary obsession. Instead, he was particularly interested in characters such as Ghost Rider and the Incredible Hulk.

The actor also revealed that his son appreciates his distinctive name. Over the years, Kal El has occasionally appeared alongside his father at public events, attracting attention because of the unusual and instantly recognisable name.

Comic books have nevertheless played an important role throughout Cage’s life and career. Born Nicolas Coppola, he chose the surname Cage early in his career. The actor has previously explained that the name was inspired partly by Marvel character Luke Cage, while also reflecting his admiration for avant garde composer John Cage.

That connection to comics eventually came full circle in 2023 when Cage finally appeared as a version of Superman in The Flash. Using digital effects, the film briefly showcased the actor as the hero he never had the chance to play in the 1990s.

Today, Cage remains active in comic inspired entertainment. He currently stars in Spider Noir, portraying a darker and older version of Spider Man in the live action series.

Even with that long history of superhero projects, Cage says the story behind his son’s name is much simpler than fans have assumed. Rather than being inspired by Superman, he chose Kal El because he loved the meaning of the name itself, bringing an end to a Hollywood myth that has persisted for more than two decades.