Nicolas Cage and John Woo Re-Teaming for Mob Boss Movie

Woo will direct the crime epic about a mob boss, with a script from ‘Bad Boys’ George Gallo and ‘Green Book’s Nick Vallelonga, with Cage in the lead role.

(L to R) Nicolas Cage and John Travolta in 'Face/Off'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Preview:

Nicolas Cage will star in new crime epic ‘Gambino.’
He’ll work again with ‘Face/Off’ director John Woo.
George Gallo and Nick Vallelonga wrote the script.

Back in 1997, director John Woo delivered some slick, silly action fun via ‘Face/Off’ which saw John Travolta’s dedicated FBI agent Sean Archer using special face-swapping technology to assume the identity of crazed criminal Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) in an attempt to foul his latest scheme. Troy, in turn gets ahold of Archer’s face and the rest is pure 1990s Woo goodness.

It has been nearly 30 years since Woo and Cage worked together, but they’re set to team back up for a new crime epic called ‘Gambino.’

The new movie will find Cage playing a mob boss who rules with a quiet authority in New York. Will it feature lots of Woo’s action flourishes. No one can say exactly yet, but we’d bet good money doves will fly at some point.

NextG Films is aboard to finance and co-produce the movie alongside Latigo Films.

What’s the story of ‘Gambino’?

Nicolas Cage presents a nominee for Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Trae Patton ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Written by ‘Bad Boys’ veteran scribe George Gallo and Oscar-winning ‘Green Book’ writer/producer Nick Vallelonga, ‘Gambino’ follows Cage’s Carlo Gambino, a butcher’s son from Sicily, who ruled New York’s underworld with quiet authority. But when his death sends shockwaves through the city, Pulitzer-winning journalist Jimmy Breslin follows the trail he left beface-pffhind to uncover the man beneath the legend.

You want an official synopsis? Here’s ya official synopsis: “Through the voices of those who loved him and those who feared him, Breslin peels back the composure that masked Gambino’s ruthlessness, revealing how this outsider rose to redefine power, loyalty, and the American dream.”

Is another ‘Face/Off’ movie in the, er, offing?

Nicolas Cage in 'Face/Off'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Despite fan demands for a follow-up, things have been relative quiet on a potential direct sequel to the original Cage/Travolta action movie.

There has been chatter about a remake, but in 2021, ‘The Guest’ director Adam Wingard announced he was attached to a follow-up.

Perhaps a reunion of Cage and Woo could give them both the impetus to get to work on an official sequel?

When will ‘Gambino’ be in theaters?

The movie is still at the “rights for sale” stage of development and pre-production, with WME Independent launching promotion of the enticing package at this year’s American Film Market.