After hunting a white jaguar in Primal and animatronic horrors in Willy's Wonderland, Nicolas Cage is mounting a search for buffalo. It's been announced that Cage will star in Butcher's Crossing, an adaptation of the John Williams novel of the same name. Directed by Gabe Polsky (Red Army, Red Penguins), the film finds Cage playing a buffalo hunter named Miller, who takes on a young Harvard dropout seeking his destiny out West. “Together, they embark on a harrowing journey risking life and sanity,” says an official description of the story. Polsky is adapting the novel alongside Liam Satre-Meloy.
Produced by Polsky, Molly Conners of Phiphen Pictures alongside Will Clarke and Andy Mayson for Altitude Film Entertainment and Cage’s Saturn Films, Butcher's Crossing is going up for sale during this week's Cannes virtual market courtesy of Altitude.
“This is an urgent story with timeless themes – a gut-wrenching journey exploring the limits of human nature,” said Polsky. “Nick Cage is one of the most dynamic and interesting performers and to have him take on this brilliant role will be exciting."
“Altitude are incredibly excited about launching ‘Butcher’s Crossing’ at Cannes. John Williams’ story is strikingly cinematic and Gabe’s vision for the film is the perfect fit. Additionally, it’s fantastic to be working with the legendary Nick Cage whose passion and appeal is second to none,” added Clarke.
Cameras are expected to roll on Butcher's Crossing in the U.S. in October.
Up next for Cage is the Michael Sarnoski-directed thriller Pig. In Pig, a truffle hunter (Cage) who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped. Nobody puts Nicolas Cage's pig in a corner. Nobody!
Pig will search for truffles in theaters beginning on July 16, 2021.