Last year, during an interview on The Fourth Wall Podcast, Wingard emphasized that he would only move forward with the project if the original cast returned:
“Look, I mean, like, the only way that we’re going to do this really is if we get, you know, the original cast. I’m not going to say how it works or anything, but like, it’s got to be 100% the real follow up not just like some fan service movie, not just some like ca-ching thing, this has to feel like the ultimate follow up to the original film.”
Now, we have an exciting update from Daniel Richtman, who confirms that Nicolas Cage and John Travolta will indeed return for the sequel, potentially in supporting roles.
‘Face/Off 2’ is reportedly centered around the children of Castor Troy (Cage) and Sean Archer (Travolta), who are destined to… face off against each other. While this premise sounds outlandish, Richtman is known for reliable reporting, suggesting he came across credible information on a recent production schedule.
For the sequel to succeed, it was crucial to have the original characters return. A significant part of the charm of the 1997 film came from the unique dynamic between Cage and Travolta, a chemistry that couldn't easily be replicated with other actors.
No production date has been announced yet, but given that Travolta has primarily starred in lower-budget films recently and Cage's schedule appears relatively light next year, filming may begin soon.
You might be wondering how Cage could reprise his role if his character was shot with a harpoon and killed in the first film. However, Barrett, who is writing the sequel, believes that Castor Troy—played by Cage—did not actually die.
“The funny thing is, I never personally thought Castor Troy died at the end of Face/Off. When you watch it now, it’s kind of clear that what they were actually probably doing was trying to have it both ways where he looks pretty damn dead when he gets shot with the fishing spear. But, they don’t cover him up and the back of it is him getting loaded on an ambulance. To me, don’t load a person on an ambulance next to a living person without putting a sheet over them in a movie unless they’re alive.”
While I had hoped for John Woo to return for the sequel, we’ll be seeing Wingard and Barrett at the helm instead. Wingard is fresh off his ‘Godzilla x Kong’ films and is currently directing A24’s ‘Onslaught’, written by Barrett, which is being described as a return to the indie roots that led to hits like You’re Next and The Guest.
