Nicolas Cage Returns For Highly Anticipated Sci-Fi Sequel

By Jeffrey Rapaport | Published

Fans of Nicolas Cage are up for anything: a Wicker Man reboot that’s unintentionally hilarious or a Charlie Kaufman project like Adaptation in which he plays two characters incredibly well—but Face/Off 2? Get ready for it.

In a thrilling turn of events for cinema enthusiasts, the much-anticipated sequel to the 1997 sci-fi action thriller Face/Off (which was, for the record, also unintentionally hilarious) is officially incoming. 

Nicolas Cage And Face/Off 2

nicolas cage face/off 2

Both Cage and his original co-star, John Travolta, will reprise their iconic roles. This might come as a surprise, given that it has been more than two decades since the first film lit up the box office. Fans fondly remember its audacious plot and electrifying—if not over-the-top—performances. 

Any Nicolas Cage devotees out there might have heard, in 2022, that director Adam Wingard, who made a name for himself with the action-packed Godzilla vs. Kong franchise, was commencing work on Face/Off 2 alongside his long-time collaborate, the writer Simon Barrett.

Wingard stopped off at The Fourth Wall Podcast to elaborate on the project-to-be, stipulating an all-important facet to the sequel: it would only happen with the original cast on hand. 

John Travolta And Nicolas Cage Reuniting

Wingard did not mince words: confirming the involvement of the iconic originals was non-negotiable, meaning Travolta and Cage, of course.

In the director’s eyes, anything else would be “some fan service movie.” 

Even more recently, Daniel Richtman, a known industry insider, volunteered the official confirmation that Nicolas Cage and Saturday Night Fever’s leading man, Travolta, will reprise their roles in Face/Off 2.

A Historic Reunion

face off 2 prop

Get ready for a historic reunion. The two, after all, enjoyed incredible chemistry in their portrayals—an on-screen chemistry that is virtually synonymous with the original film. Let’s face it: no other duo could replicate to their notorious, alchemic partnership. 

Hopefully, this dynamic will be recaptured in full. 

And, yes, we know Cage’s character, Castor Troy, was technically killed off at the end of Face/Off (consider the movie spoiled, but it’s still worth a watch). But thankfully, Barrett teased a prospective plot twist, one reviving Troy from the beyond and plopping back into the thriller’s universe. 

Nicolas Cage As Castor Troy

nicolas cage

To hear Barrett tell it, the conveniently ambiguous circumstances of Troy’s demise in the initial film provide ample room for a creative revival.

And beyond the movie’s lore, in the slightly more realistic world of Hollywood, Nicolas Cage’s schedule is uniquely open and ripe for a Face/Off 2 shoot. Moreover, Travolta is in the midst of a career phase characterized by lower-profile projects. 

These hints show that principle photography might get rolling on the sooner side.

No John Woo But Adam Wingard

john woo face/off 2 nic cage john travolta

Let’s get something out of the way, however: of course, John Woo, the visionary action director—a towering titan of the genre—directed the first film; his absence from this sequel will doubtlessly sadden fans.

But fortunately, the general consensus is Wingard and Barrett will rise to the occasion and deliver a compelling second installment. 

Time To Get Excited

face/off 2

Sure, Wingard’s most recent output has been low-IQ blockbuster spectacles, e.g., Godzilla vs. Kong. But his directing chops also applied ably to You’re Next and The Guest, meaning he can handle intense, somewhat more adult-oriented narratives and complex (to a point) characters.

All of which excites us for Nicolas Cage in Face/Off 2.

Source: World of Reel