Nicolas Cage transforms into Dusko Popov, the Yugoslavian playboy and real-life double agent who inspired James Bond, for his upcoming movie.
The first set images of Cage on the set of Simon West‘s World War II espionage action-adventure Fortitude have been revealed, showing filming taking place in the English countryside.
In the images, Cage is seen wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie, behind the wheel of a £1 million 1930s Bentley Blower. He seems to stop a car after blocking the road, pointing his gun at a man and woman inside.
Fortitude is based on the true story of British intelligence operatives who carried out groundbreaking strategic operations to deceive Nazi leadership and change the course of World War II.
The film follows the ingenuity of British Army officers Dudley Clarke and Thomas Argyll “Tar” Robertson, who orchestrated an elaborate web of deception involving fictitious armies, fake military equipment, and a network of double agents designed to mislead Nazi intelligence. Among them was Yugoslavian playboy Dusko Popov, the real-life double agent said to have inspired Ian Fleming’s James Bond.
The film stars Cage (Con Air), Ben Kingsley (Gandhi), Matthew Goode (The Imitation Game), Ed Skrein (Jurassic World: Rebirth), Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon), Alice Eve (Star Trek Into Darkness), Lukas Haas (Inception), Jordi Mollà (Mobland), Art Malik (True Lies), Adrian Topol (Franz + Polina), Emilio Sakraya (Sixty Minutes), and Paul Anderson (Peaky Blinders).
Directed by West from a screenplay by Simon Afram (Lear Rex), the film is produced by Afram, Georgette Turner, Reza Roohi (ATL Hustle), and Edward Kahl (Queen of Manhattan), with Bianca Goodloe and David Scaramanga serving as executive producers.
Fortitude is Cage’s third film with director West, after Con Air and Stolen. Historian Joshua Levine, who worked with Christopher Nolan on Dunkirk, helped ensure the film’s historical accuracy.
In a press release, Afram said, “We are excited to bring together such a remarkable ensemble.” He added, “Their chemistry and depth, paired with West’s direction, elevate this story into something truly gripping and unforgettable.”
Fortitude is set to hit theaters in 2026.
