Just Kidding! Nicolas Cage Won't Star in Untouchables Prequel

If Brian De Palma moves ahead with prequel The Untouchables: Capone Rising, it will be without Nicolas Cage.

Cage had been in negotiations to star in the follow-up, but talks have ended because of scheduling issues, according to his reps.

Relativity Media is financing the film, while Paramount has domestic distrib rights. Art Linson, who produced De Palma's 1987 original The Untouchables, is producing the prequel as well.

In Cannes last week, Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh announced that Gerard Butler has joined the cast.

Butler (300) is set for the part of Jimmy Malone, played by Sean Connery in the original. Cage would have played the young Al Capone.

Cage is presently shooting National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which opens in December. He hasn't said what his next movie will be after that.