Netflix Sued for Staggering $105 Million Over Nicolas Cage WWII Thriller
Nicolas Cage is set for new projects including the biopic "Madden" and the WWII thriller "Fortitude," but the latter is now the subject of a $105 million lawsuit against Netflix after its digital cinema package was reportedly stolen from headquarters.
Nicolas Cage, following his recent starring role in Prime Video's live-action series "Spider-Noir," an offshoot of the animated Spider-Verse films, is preparing for an intriguing array of upcoming projects. Before his return in "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" in 2027, Cage will be seen in the sports biopic "Madden." Directed by five-time Academy Award-nominee David O. Russell, the film features Cage wearing a wavy blonde wig and an aqua blue tracksuit, and also stars Christian Bale.
Subsequently, Cage is slated to star in the British WWII thriller "Fortitude." Written by Simon Afram, known for "Lear Rex," and directed by Simon West of "Con Air" fame, "Fortitude" boasts a formidable cast. Notable actors include Matthew Goode, Ed Skrein, Jordi Mollà, Alice Eve, and Michael Sheen. Simon Afram lauded the cast's "remarkable" chemistry and depth, asserting that their combined talent, paired with West’s direction, promises to elevate the narrative into a truly gripping and unforgettable experience.
However, the journey to bringing "Fortitude" to the screen has been fraught with legal complications. In 2023, Simon Afram filed a lawsuit against Martin Scorsese, alleging that Scorsese accepted a $500,000 payment as an executive producer but failed to assist in getting the project off the ground. Scorsese's legal team countersued, and the matter was ultimately resolved out of court.
The film is now entangled in a fresh legal dispute, with Afram suing Netflix for $105 million. According to court documents, the lawsuit stems from an incident in June when an associate producer delivered a digital cinema package (DCP) of the film to Netflix headquarters, with the expectation that Netflix might negotiate for its rights. When the associate producer attempted to retrieve the package after more than a week, Netflix reportedly became unresponsive. Eventually, Netflix confirmed via email that the film had been stolen. While there is no evidence yet of the film being leaked, Afram argues that this theft has significantly jeopardized the project's overall value. Sean Barney, a director for the original film at Netflix, acknowledged the situation, stating, "This is a first for us. Unfortunately, someone stole a good amount of drives from our office desks this past week. We’ve been working through this with our security teams to no luck."