Having Nicolas Cage in your film can be pretty expensive. They don't rest big special effects movies on his shoulders for nothing. But if you're pals, you can sometimes get a good deal. Robert Rodriguez is known for that, so his associates on "Grindhouse" lured Cage to star in one of their fake trailers between features.

"My friend Rob Zombie, I know him only socially," recalled Cage. "I like him. He's a nice man. We have good memories together over the years. He said would I do this part of Fu Manchu and I said sure."

It all sounds so simple, but Cage admits it's total camp. "One day, two lines, I mean it was just completely ridiculous. I haven't seen it. I'm not in any of the movies. Two seconds, that's it."


Danny Trejo as Machete in one of "Grindhouse"'s fake trailers; click for more images!

Rob Zombie, currently in production on his "Halloween" remake, is one of a handful of guest directors making fake trailers that will appear during the "Grindhouse" program (Zombie's entry is for the fake film, "Werewolf Women of the SS"). Edgar Wright ("Shaun of the Dead") and Eli Roth ("Hostel") are also contributing trailers.

"Grindhouse," a two-parter exploitation flick homage from Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, hits theaters April 6!