Nicolas Cage is once again surprising audiences with a project that takes him away from his usual action roles. The actor will star in C.L.A.Y., a psychological and technological thriller centered on a clandestine hacker collective, which will also mark the directorial debut of Simon Afram.
The announcement is significant because it reunites Cage with Michael Sheen, with whom he already shares the screen in Fortitude, the war drama written by Afram in which Sheen plays Winston Churchill and Cage portrays agent Duško Popov. Now, much of that same team is moving on to a radically different story.
What is C.L.A.Y. about?
As reported by Deadline, the plot follows a computer prodigy, practically invisible to society, who finds a sense of belonging upon coming into contact with a hacker group called C.L.A.Y., an acronym for Clowns Laughing At You.
At first, the collective uses its skills to carry out increasingly daring digital provocations. But the story escalates when those actions stop being limited to a screen and start having real-world consequences.
As the group's notoriety grows, their activities attract the attention of intelligence agencies, criminal organizations, and rival hackers, shifting the plot into the realm of a psychological and conspiratorial thriller.
Echoes of Mr. Robot
The premise invites comparisons to Mr. Robot, the USA Network series starring Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson. The profile of the protagonist of C.L.A.Y.—socially isolated and looking for a place to belong within a hacker collective—follows a similar path to that character.
Michael Sheen joins Nicolas Cage again
Michael Sheen will join Cage in the cast, although the characters they will play have not yet been confirmed. They are also joined by Jordi Mollà, Emilio Sakraya, and Adrian Topol, three actors who are also part of the cast of Fortitude.
The connection between both projects, therefore, goes beyond its two main leads and makes C.L.A.Y. a kind of team reunion.
Simon Afram’s directorial debut
Simon Afram, screenwriter of Fortitude, will personally direct C.L.A.Y., marking his first work behind the camera. Fortitude, for its part, was directed by Simon West, responsible for films such as Con Air and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
Afram has explained that he wants to use the digital world as a starting point to address more human themes, such as identity, the need for belonging, and the influence that the digital environment can exert on real life.
The director has noted that his goal is to build a story about people in search of a purpose, in an era where almost anything seems achievable from behind a screen. He has also stated that he is looking for an unpredictable narrative, capable of staying in the viewer's mind once the screening ends.
Filming in London and release scheduled for 2028
Filming for C.L.A.Y. is scheduled to begin in London next month, while its release has been set for November 22, 2028.
The project arrives, however, at a complicated time for Fortitude. The film is embroiled in a legal dispute after a drive containing the material was delivered to Netflix's offices in Hollywood and subsequently stolen.
Simon Afram and his company, Op-Fortitude, sued Netflix, arguing that the theft could harm the film's commercial prospects, and are seeking at least $105 million in damages. Netflix denies any responsibility for what happened. For now, Fortitude remains without a distributor.
Despite this context, Afram already has practically the same team to make the leap to C.L.A.Y., a project that combines Nicolas Cage, Michael Sheen, and a hacker plot with resonances of Mr. Robot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What character will Nicolas Cage play in C.L.A.Y.?
It has not yet been confirmed what role Nicolas Cage will play in the story.
Who is directing C.L.A.Y.?
Simon Afram, screenwriter of Fortitude, is directing C.L.A.Y., in what will be his directorial debut.
When is C.L.A.Y. released?
The release is scheduled for November 22, 2028.
Where will the film be shot?
Filming will begin in London next month.
What is the relationship between C.L.A.Y. and Fortitude?
Both projects share Nicolas Cage, Michael Sheen, Jordi Mollà, Emilio Sakraya, Adrian Topol, and screenwriter Simon Afram, although they tell completely different stories.
What is C.L.A.Y. about?
It tells the story of a computer prodigy who joins a hacker collective called C.L.A.Y., whose digital provocations end up having real consequences and attracting the attention of intelligence agencies and criminal organizations.
