Up next for Nicolas Cage is a role in A24’s “Dream Scenario.” The film is directed by Kristoffer Borgli, who helmed last year’s Cannes gem “Sick of Myself.”
In “Dream Scenario” Cage plays a schlubby professor who becomes an overnight celebrity after appearing in everyone's dream. Sign me up.
The film test screened last night and, holy hell, the reactions are very good. It sounds like A24 has a winner, and, more importantly, has delivered another note-worthy performance.
A dreamy psychological dark comedy that’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying (one involving him terrifying his daughter is bound to become one of his most memorable images). Very much at home for an A24 vibe and I wouldn’t be surprised if he garnered some awards attention for it. Feels like something Michael Gondry meets Yorgos Lanthimos would create. Cage confronts cancel culture might be the selling point for this one! Cage is amazing. Funny and engaging and totally bonkers when it calls for it. It’s very reminiscent of Colin Farrell in The Lobster. He even gets to wear the David Byrne suit from “Stop Making Sense” at one point.
This one might be going to TIFF and/or Venice.
Cage stars alongside Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Kate Berlant, Dylan Baker and Dylan Gelula. Ari Aster is also listed as producer.
Of course, Cage being Cage, the actor has five films that might get released this year. I don’t know how he does it. I’m counting “Dream Scenario,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” “The Retirement Plan,” “Arcadian” and “Longlegs.”
As mentioned, Borgli turned some heads last year when he premiered at Cannes “Sick of Myself” in the Un Certain Regard section. I wasn’t fully on-board its shock-factor style of comedy, but Borgli is a risk-taker and seems a good fit for this film.
Paul Greengrass’ "The Uprising," starring Andrew Garfield, opened to $3.2M from 2,068 theaters this weekend. Yikes. The budget hasn’t been disclosed, but is said to be in the $20-$30M range.