New Cyber-Thriller Casts Michael Sheen And Nicolas Cage For Major Reunion

Published Oct 1, 2026, 5:04 PM EDT

Adam Bentz is a senior news writer at ScreenRant, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and lists. He studied creative writing and English with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University and interned as a writer/journalist for The Borgen Project, an influential organization that fights global poverty.

However, one of his proudest achievements is editing a Leonardo DiCaprio freakout compilation that has over 150K views on YouTube. Adam also fancies himself an amateur film critic on his personal website.

The Welsh actor has frequently played real-life figures such as Tony Blair and David Frost, while also starring in the Twilight franchise (2009–2012), Tron: Legacy (2010), and Good Omens (2019–2026). Throughout his career, Cage has oscillated between prestige films and mainstream action movies, winning an Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas (1995) and starring in National Treasure (2004–2007) and Ghost Rider (2007–2011).

Now, according to Deadline, Nicolas Cage and Michael Sheen have joined the cast of C.L.A.Y., along with Jordi Mollà, Emilio Sakraya, and Adrian Topol. The psychological cyber-thriller is written, directed, and produced by Simon Afram, marking his directorial debut and bringing back several key cast members from the upcoming World War II espionage film Fortitude, which he also wrote for director Simon West.

Further casting for Afram's directorial debut is still underway, though C.L.A.Y. "follows a brilliant but socially invisible computer prodigy who finds purpose and belonging when he is drawn into C.L.A.Y. (Clowns Laughing At You), an underground hacker collective whose daring exploits turn digital provocation into real-world consequences. As the group's notoriety grows, their actions attract the attention of intelligence agencies, criminal syndicates, and rival hackers."

Simon Afram shared the following statement: "C.L.A.Y. is about identity, belonging and the extraordinary power the digital world can have over our real lives. At its heart, it’s a deeply human story about people searching for purpose in a world where almost anything is possible behind a screen. I wanted to create a film that pulls you in, remains unpredictable, and stays with you long after the film ends."

C.L.A.Y. is scheduled to begin filming on location in London in November 2026. The movie is being produced by Edward Kahl, Reza Roohi, and Adrian Topol, with Bianca Goodloe, David Scaramanga, and Daniel Haido serving as executive producers.

Simon Afram's C.L.A.Y. will serve as a major reunion for the cast of Fortitude, which he wrote, starring Nicolas Cage, Michael Sheen, Jordi Mollà, Emilio Sakraya, and Adrian Topol. The cast also includes Matthew Goode, Ed Skrein, Alice Eve, Ben Kingsley, Art Malik, Lukas Haas, Paul Anderson, Ron Perlman, Ronni Ancona, Lorena Andrea, Maeve Courtier-Lilley, Freddy Carter, and Jonathan Aris.

The upcoming World War II movie follows British Intelligence operatives whose groundbreaking deception tactics helped mislead Nazi leadership and influence the course of World War II – specifically British Army officers Dudley Clarke, Thomas Argyll "Tar" Robertson, and Serbian playboy Duško Popov – who orchestrated elaborate schemes involving fictitious armies, dummy equipment, and double agents.

Fortitude made headlines in June 2026 when an unencrypted master copy of the film was reportedly stolen from Netflix's Los Angeles offices on a hard drive. The incident led Afram to file a $105 million lawsuit against Netflix, alleging that the theft undermined the film's sale and put its planned release strategy and awards campaign at risk.

Now, with Nicolas Cage and Michael Sheen back together, C.L.A.Y. is shaping up to be an intriguing reunion.

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  Birthdate January 7, 1964

  Birthplace Long Beach, California, USA

  Height 6 feet 0 inches

  Notable Projects The Croods, National Treasure, Ghost Rider

  Professions Actor, Producer, Director

  Discover the latest news and filmography for Nicolas Cage, known for National Treasure and Leaving Las Vegas.

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  Birthdate February 5, 1969

  Birthplace Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK

  Notable Projects Passengers, Underworld, Good Omens