Well, I guess if you are losing support in front of the camera it’s time to step behind it and hopefully be more successful. At least, that might be what Nicolas Cage is thinking as he is reportedly signed to not only star in a new filmed titled Vengeance: A Love Story, but direct it too, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This wouldn’t be first time we have seen Cage direct a movie, as he directed the James Franco starring Sonny back in 2002 – though its something he has normally been reluctant to do again – until now.
The new project is based on a novel by Joyce Carol Oates titled Rape: A Love Story and follows a detective John Dromoor (who will be played by Cage) who is “asked to help a woman named Teena who is gang-raped over the fourth of July. Teena’s daughter, who witnessed the attack, asks the detective to help her when it seems that her mother’s attackers may be getting away with it when the lawyers put the focus on Teena’s credibility, based on her sobriety and sexual promiscuity”. That sounds like one intense movie right there and is certainly something meaty for Cage to dive into. Rape is an uncomfortable subject for most and one that is difficult to portray on screen, but could potentially be a really powerful movie and one that reminds us why Cage is such a great performer.
He seems pretty excited about the task though, releasing an official statement:
I’m excited to work on Vengeance: A Love Story and bring Joyce Carol Oates’ bittersweet novel to the screen. Storytelling has always been my passion and I’m honored to work with this talented team to tell a tale of the suffering too many women have endured.
The film is based off a screenplay from John Mankiewicz and it will start shooting on April 4 in Atlanta. It was initially set to be directed by Harold Becker, before he pulled out and Cage stepped in. Becker will remain as a producer on the film.
Sonny was not exactly a great movie, but hopefully Cage can channel some genetics of his legendary uncle Francis Ford Coppola and turn this into an exception film. What do you make of Cage’s turn as a director, think it will be a success or do you fear it will be a film to stay well clear of?
Last Updated: March 15, 2016
