Nicolas Cage’s Next World War 2 Movie Will Reunite Him With His Greatest Action Thriller Director 

Nicolas Cage is heading back to the World War II setting on screen, and this time, he’s teaming up with one of his most famous directors, Simon West. Almost three decades ago, Cage and West collaborated on Con Air, the wild action movie about a prison plane gone wrong. The 1997 film became a huge hit, despite a low critic score, and became one of Cage’s most iconic roles. 

Now, after 28 years, the Oscar-winning actor and director are reuniting for a brand-new action spy thriller called Fortitude (via Deadline). What makes this reunion even more exciting is that the film is once again set against the backdrop of high-stakes drama, suspense, and explosions, much like Con Air, which is often regarded as an adrenaline-pumping action thriller. 

So now, given that the premise of the plot is similar for both Nicolas Cage and Simon West, the film is expected to be a major hit upon its release. 

Simon West Recalls the “Surreal Comedy” in Con Air That Plunged Its Ratings  

Meanwhile, as Nicolas Cage and Simon West teamed up for Con Air back in 1997, they turned the movie into one of the craziest and most entertaining action films of the decade. It had everything, from explosions to prison fights, outrageous villains, and even Cage’s unforgettable performance as Cameron Poe.

Which is why many fans often call it a perfect 10/10 on an entertainment scale because of how fun and over-the-top it was. But despite all that love from the audiences, Con Air landed a mere 58% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, even though it’s still considered a cult classic today. And somehow, Simon West believes the drop in rating can be attributed to his filming style. 

The table contains basic details on Con Air:

Speaking with Mike Fury, the director admitted that even though he thought he was making a pure action film, his style at the time still leaned heavily on comedy. Simon West said he never fully “turned off” his comedy instincts, and as a result, the movie became a mix of surreal humor and intense action.

Looking back, I probably didn’t turn off the comedy muscle much. This is why it’s a pretty surreal comedy with a lot of action in the background. I really thought I was making an action film but I’d been flexing the comedy style for so long that it’s still present and there’s a lot of humour in there. 

But despite acknowledging the possible cause, Simon West doesn’t regret it. He explained that since Con Air was his very first movie, he gave it everything he had without worrying about comparisons or rules. So, when his film premiered at his childhood cinema in Letchworth, it became a full-circle moment for him. 

Since it was my first film, I had no reference or comparison, I just threw everything I had into it, but it turned out very well. Some of my best childhood memories were at my local cinema in Letchworth called the Broadway… Years later, the UK premiere of Con Air took place there so it was a nice full-circle experience to come home to. 

So in the end, Con Air still holds its place as one of the most entertaining action films ever made, with Nicolas Cage at the heart of the madness. And now, it is expected that Fortitude will deliver the same level of entertainment, maybe this time with a bit more focus on action than comedy. 

Everything We Know So Far About Nicolas Cage’s Fortitude 

Now, let’s take a look at Nicolas Cage and Simon West’s upcoming collaboration in Fortitude. Because, as per reports from Deadline, this film, unlike the wild prison-plane adventure, will take audiences back to World War II. So far, shooting has begun in London on September 8, and the film promises large-scale action.

Nicolas Cage as Yuri Arlov in Lord of War | image: Lionsgate Films

Meanwhile, although it marks the reunion between Cage and West, Fortitude also comes with a star-studded cast. Alongside Cage, the film stars Matthew Goode, Michael Sheen, Lukas Haas, Ed Skrein, and Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley. With such a strong lineup of actors, the film promises strong performances to match its high-stakes story.

As for the storyline, Fortitude is based on real-life events from World War II, when the British Intelligence used clever tricks to fool Nazi leaders and change the direction of the war. So, the movie will follow officers Dudley Clarke and Thomas “Tar” Robertson, who created fake armies, props, and even double agents to mislead the enemy. 

Written by Simon Afram, Fortitude is shaping up to be a mix of history, espionage, and classic Nicolas Cage action. If Simon West can capture the same energy that made Con Air unforgettable, then this reunion could very well deliver another hit for both actor and director.

Share your opinions and expectations from Fortitude. 

Fortitude is yet to have a release date.  

Con Air is currently available in the US on Netflix or Disney+.