Nicolas Cage made his first public appearance since his ex dropped her ᴀssault lawsuit against the actor while attending the SXSW Film Festival on Monday in Austin.
The National Treasure actor, 61, was sued last month by ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton as she accused him of enabling their son Weston before the 34-year-old’s alleged ‘viscous attack’ on her in April 2024.
However on Monday, the actress filed to dismiss Nicolas from the case in court documents obtained by People, but is still suing their son.
The Oscar winner dressed to impress while at the screening of his latest film тιтled The Surfer – a psychological thriller directed by Lorcan Finnegan which was branded a ‘gloriously demented B-movie’ by one critic.
Cage sported a shimmering black suit which was paired with a black dress shirt as well as black shoes.
He completed the ensemble for the event by adding a black hat on top of his head and also opted for a pair of pink shades.
Nicolas Cage, 61, made his first public appearance since his ex dropped her ᴀssault lawsuit against the actor while attending the SXSW Film Festival on Monday in Austin
However on Monday, the actress filed to dismiss Nicolas from the case in court documents obtained by People, but is still suing their son; Fulton seen in 2015 in Beverly Hills
Nicolas paused for a brief pH๏τo session on the red carpet upon arriving to the festival – which is set to conclude later this week on Saturday, March 15.
The star recently took on a leading role in The Surfer alongside other cast members such as Julian McMahon, Nicholas Cᴀssim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand and Justin Rosniak.
The premise of the movie is: ‘A man returns to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son.
‘When he is humiliated by a group of locals, the man is drawn into a conflict that keeps rising and pushes him to his breaking point,’ per an official IMDB synopsis.
After the film was shown at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival last May, The Guardian reviewed the movie and gave it four out of five stars.
Author Xan Brooks for the outlet labeled the project as ‘a pleasing, no-frills intensity’ and added, ‘It’s a low-budget, hard-hitting comic bruiser of a picture: a midlife-crisis movie dressed up as a 1970s exploitation flick.’
Variety wrote that the film is ‘about male anxiety, male power, male midlife crisis, male rituals of pain and dominance, and how much theater Nicolas Cage can wring out of all of that.’
The publication also defined The Surfer as a ‘midnight movie’ and added it’s a ‘kind of trippy slapdash comic nightmare where the only way to watch it is to sit back and “go with it.”‘
Last year in May during the Cannes Film Festival, McMahon opened up about working alongside Cage, per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline.
The Oscar winner dressed to impress while at the screening of his latest film тιтled The Surfer – a psychological thriller directed by Lorcan Finnegan
Cage sported a shimmering black suit which was paired with a black dress shirt as well as black shoes
The star recently took on a leading role in The Surfer alongside other cast members such as Julian McMahon, Nicholas Cᴀssim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand and Justin Rosniak
He stated, ‘For some reason I had a hunch that Nicolas would be open to being explorative and creative on set.
‘I kind of had a feeling of the same thing about Lorcan… I got to really dig into who this guy was on set,’ Julian expressed to the outlet.
Read More Nicolas Cage’s ex speaks out after suing him over their son alleged ᴀssaulting her 
The actor added that Nicolas ‘brings a lot of energy to his work’ and shared, ‘I like to be energetic with the way that I work. We both like to throw a lot of things out there. He’s got a lot of creative ideas.’
Before Cage’s appearance at the film screening, his ex Christina Fulton dropped the lawsuit against the actor – although there is still a case against their son Weston.
Her claims against the Hollywood star were dismissed with prejudice, People reported, and she can not pursue the claims again in the future.
Earlier this month ahead of filing the dismissal, Christina spoke to TMZ about holding her ex accountable after their son allegedly ᴀssaulted her.
While entering a Los Angeles courthouse, she expressed to the outlet that both the treatment from her son as well as the LAPD had left her ‘heartbroken.’
She then claimed that officers left her ‘on the ground, bleeding’ after her son allegedly attacked her last year. ‘I have done this alone, I have been left alone – if not blocked.’
Fulton claimed that their son’s aggressive behavior had only worsened due to the actor ‘enabling Weston his whole life.’
When her son allegedly ᴀssaulted her, Christina claimed that he had been in a ‘manic rage’ at the time.
Before Cage’s appearance at the film screening, his ex Christina Fulton dropped the lawsuit against the actor – although there is still a case against their son Weston; Fulton and Weston seen in L.A. in 2019
The actress said that she ‘love[s her] son’ but added that she felt he was a victim of a ‘mental health crisis epidemic.’
In regards as to why she chose to also sue her ex at the time – whom she dated from 1988 through 1991 – Fulton said, ‘I’m holding everyone responsible.’
Last month in February, she submitted a civil complaint to the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County, per the Los Angeles Times.
She had sued Cage for ‘negligent supervision and negligent undertaking’ of their son. Christina is also suing her son for ᴀssault, battery and negligent and intentional inflection of emotional distress.
The Hard Drive actress previously claimed that the 34-year-old ‘brutally ᴀssaulted’ her during a mental health crisis near his home, which left her with ‘severe and life-threatening injuries.’
Weston – who has since pleaded not guilty – was arrested in July 2024 on a charge of ᴀssault with a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly weapon, and was released on a $150,000 bond.
Nicolas Cage’s lawyer hit back at Fulton’s claims in a statement to People after her lawsuits were filed.
‘The allegations by Christina Fulton against Nicolas Cage are absurd and frivolous,’ they said. ‘Weston Coppola is a 34-year-old man. Mr. Cage does not control Weston’s behavior in any manner and is not responsible for Weston’s alleged ᴀssault of his mother.’
In January, Weston and Fulton were spotted at the ᴀssault trial in Los Angeles, which was granted a continuance and delayed.
In regards as to why she was also sued her ex – whom she dated from 1988 through 1991 – Fulton said, ‘I’m holding everyone responsible’; former couple seen in 1988 in L.A.
The Hard Drive actress previously claimed that the 34-year-old ‘brutally ᴀssaulted’ her during a mental health crisis near his home, which left her with ‘severe and life-threatening injuries’; seen in 2024 in Santa Monica
Fulton is also requesting unspecified damages for the ‘catastrophic physical, emotional and economic harm she has endured due to an unprovoked attack by their son, Weston.’
In the complaint, the star claimed that Nicolas enabled their son’s behavior – despite being ‘aware’ of Weston’s ‘long history of mental and psychological disorder.
‘Weston has a long history of mental and psychological disorder and a history of committing violent ᴀssault and battery and harming numerous individuals,’ the suit stated, according to People.
‘Nicolas has been aware of Weston’s history and nevertheless failed to take action to prevent Weston from committing acts of violence and harming others.
‘Nicolas has been aware of Weston’s history and nevertheless failed to take action to prevent Weston from committing acts of violence and harming others.’
Christina had also claimed that her ex further enabled Weston’s ‘reckless’ lifestyle and behavior such as drinking alcohol together ‘despite knowing his substance abuse history.’
She also alleged the Longlegs actor bailed their son out of jail on more than one occasion, paid his son’s rent at a condo in L.A. and did nothing to ensure that Weston received ‘necessary psychiatric’ help.
In the complaint, Christina claimed that the alleged ᴀssault that took place in April of last year ‘devastated Fulton’s thriving career as a former model, actress and entrepreneur.’
The scuffle between Weston and Fulton occurred on April 28 in the Los Angeles area, when a verbal dispute reportedly turned physical.
Christina had also claimed that her ex further enabled Weston’s ‘reckless’ lifestyle and behavior such as drinking alcohol together ‘despite knowing his substance abuse history’; seen in 2022 in L.A.
‘On April 28th, 2024, around 5:30 p.m., I received urgent messages from friends of my son, Weston Cage, regarding his deteriorating mental state, urging me to come help,’ Fulton said in a statement obtained by People.
‘When I arrived to offer support and console him, he was already in the midst of a manic rage. Within minutes, I was brutally ᴀssaulted and sustained serious injuries,’ she claimed.
‘Despite my desperate pleas to the responding police officers to detain him for a mental-health evaluation, the police officers refused my request.’
Fulton added in her statement: ‘As a mother, I am deeply saddened and concerned about Weston’s ongoing mental-health crisis. It is imperative that he receives the help he desperately needs.’
The LAPD confirmed that Weston was booked for ᴀssault with a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly weapon – just weeks after his mother was spotted with intense bruises on her face.
The LAPD also confirmed with People the arrest was made in direct connection to the alleged April 28 altercation.
Weston’s case was submitted to the district attorney’s office on May 10 and on June 26 the DA filed two counts of ᴀssault with a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly weapon against him. An arrest warrant was later issued.
The LAPD confirmed that Weston was booked for ᴀssault with a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly weapon – just weeks after his mother was spotted with intense bruises on her face
Last week, Weston announced his engagement to girlfriend Jenifer Alexa Canter – and Fulton later spoke out to TMZ to share her response on the news
The actor was released on a $150,000 bail around 10am. The U.S. Sun reported that his father is believed to be the one who bailed him out.
An ambulance was reportedly called to the home to check out Fulton, but she declined to be taken to the hospital, TMZ reported at the time of the alleged incident.
Last week, Weston announced his engagement to girlfriend Jenifer Alexa Canter – and Fulton later spoke out to TMZ to share her response on the news.
‘I hope his mental health is being addressed first and foremost. At the end of the day he’s my son, I want the best for him, however my pain and suffering this past year as his mother will never got away.’
