Bruce McDonald Wants Nicolas Cage For Lead In Supernatural Thriller “Dark Highway”
by Lula Argante
Canadian director Bruce McDonald has been attached to helm “Dark Highway”, a supernatural thriller written by Christopher Lyle, since September 2011. Variety revealed very little about the project at the time other than it’s rather ambiguous logline: “Story follows a man being chased who is trying to get to a certain place in one day. He doesn’t know whether the situation is real or his imagination.”
4 months on and the director has disclosed to The Canadian Press who he hopes to nab for the lead role – none other than our fave actor, Mr Cage.
McDonald is all ready to go on the $25 million movie: “Now it’s all about timing, and everybody’s schedule…It’s one of those things where you’re never really sure if it’s happening until it’s happening.”
Described at TIFF 2011 as a “Canadian maverick”, Bruce McDonald has undeniable perfect vision in setting his sights on Nicolas Cage, who won the Maverick Award at the SCREAM Awards 2011. And we can’t help but think this could be a maverick match made in movie heaven!
Let us know what you think about this potential movie project and discuss this article with other fans below!
I love what little they say about the storyline, sounds kind of science fistion and I like that type story, Nic will be perfect for it too, I think. Of course that is based on next to no information, but it does sound intriguing!
Is 25 million a lot for movie budget, it sounds like a lot to me, but what do I know? At any rate, it is exciting news, and if they film in Canada, it will be double exciting for me!!!
It will be an interesting movie, however it works out, just based on what his other movies sound like, I have never seen any.
That would be sooo cool, if it would happen! A perfect match! Nic loves cars and, I think, that movie would surly be NICtastic with our MaverNIC in the lead! I would love to see it happen! And, by reading the short storyline, I`m sure, Nic would pull that role perfectly off in his Nuoveau ShamaNIC style!Really great article! Thanks for writing and posting it, Lula!
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"When you think about magic, it is imagination plus willpower focused in such a way that you can create a conscious effect in the material world..."
It had me at "supernatural" "thriller" and "Nicolas Cage"! and I am loving that tiniest hint that the character has ths blur between imagination and and reality..that can lead to all kinds of trippy, alternative scenarios...and into the more surreal possibility.. which is where we all sometimes love to see Nic play! Plus.. it sounds right up Nic's alley!
I am ashamed to say I have only seen Bruce MacDonald's Highway 61, which is a brilliant film..but I am sure I have bumped into his tv work several times!
I don't know an awful lot about film budgets either lady T, but I think this is a fairly low budget by Hollywood standards..the big movies $100 - 200 million..if you think about the fuss that was made when GR2 had it's budget slashed by $60 mill to $70 mill..it puts in into perspective..but then it depends on post production special effects and distribution...that kind of thing...and GR2 is heavy with effects so what proportion of the budget goes to that i do not know! but it is still in my mind a good budget, especially when you think that Neveldine and Taylor did the crank films for about $15million (don't quote me though, i may be talking out my behind here ). I think Season Of The Witch cost about $40 million? maybe there will be less effects in this film! But I know for sure an outstanding film does not need a maassive budget..Leaving Las Vegas cost $4 million, and even with changing costs over time, that is an impressive budget and Nic's Oscar winning film! and now I am rambling..so I will shut up!
We will have to keep our eyes peeled for more news on this film! Despite the inteview with Bruce McDonald, the film does not appear as a future project on his IMDB page But then IMDB is not the movie gospel as we know!
Nic loves supernatural films, but he also says, that he is eclectic (or as we call it here: eclectNIC), so, he loves the other genres as well, Nicschix. There is no doupt about it.
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"When you think about magic, it is imagination plus willpower focused in such a way that you can create a conscious effect in the material world..."
yeh, he does tend to go in phases though, this one has lasted a long time, but we have had Trespass and Justice too. Don't get me wrong I can't wait for GR2, but would like to see a comedy or a romance or something a bit light hearted soon. I will watch anything nick is in though so I'm not complaining!
Yes, Lady T and Lula, $25 million these days is indeed a low budget for a movie.
Though I must say, the concept of this movie is genius and intriguing. I absolutely love natural sci-fi thrillers and this movie really hits home for me, as I could totally see Nic knocking this character out of the park.
Nic is amazing in thrillers and the sci-fi edge just really makes the movie attain a juicy twist.
nicschix, yes, Nic has been inceasingly drawn to the supernatural and sci fi genre.. I am a happy bunny though because I like the possibilities of that, the fun of that, the permission it gives a film to go into other areas... the anti realism or multi realism if you like..or dystopian utopian worlds or scenarios which get you to question the here and now... it is possibly my favourite genre...but..I gotta say it..when Nic does Supernatural is it is rarely just supernatural..there is alot of other stuff going on..for example how would one classify Drive Angry? isn't that a million miles away from say, The Sorcerers Apprentice? yet they are both 'supernatural'?
I do agree that if Nic were to do solely supernatural films, it would be a tragedy because he is a multitalented actor who can bring the same genius to a whole range of styles and contexts of films..and having seen him i Justice and Trespass recently I am thrilled to be seeing him in those kind fo roles too! but i agree with Lady Arwen that he is in fact still mixing it up very much so! This film promises to be a slightly different angle of supernatural too..perhaps more horror?
You have touched upon something i had not considered though, Nic's recent fare (Trespass, Justice) and immediate upcoming (Spirit Of Vengeance, Stolen, Frozen Ground) not exactly light subject matter! But we do have the glorious prospect of the musical comedy satire of Nic in Charlie Kaufman's 'Frank and Francis' to look forward to.. and the eventual release of the animtion 'The Croods'! But you are looking forward to a Nic Rom Com eh??