Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cage and Alice Kim at Screening of 'Knowing' at AMC Loews Lincoln Square, New York City, USA - 09.03.09

The role that sparked a major comeback for Mickey Rourke initially belonged to Cage, but the Con Air star resigned from the project - because he didn't think he'd make a believable Randy 'The Ram' Robinson.

Cage tells TV news show Access Hollywood, "I resigned from the movie because I didn't think I had enough time to achieve the look of the wrestler who was on steroids, which I would never do."

And the actor reveals he asked for Rourke's blessing when the film role came to him - because it was written for the Angel Heart star.

Cage adds, "For whatever reason, they couldn't get the financing for the movie back then."

Source: WENN