Unmasked Secrets Unveiled: Dive into the Compelling Father & Son Dynamic in Lords of War, According to Director of Nicolas Cage Sequel

Nicolas Cage is set to reprise his role as the arms dealer in Lords of War, which is based on a true story. This time, the movie will include a twist. In the 2005 crime drama, Cage played Yuri Orlov, a character loosely inspired by real-life smuggler Viktor Bout. Orlov faces moral dilemmas in his work as his wife and an INTERPOL agent try to bring him to justice. The film also starred Jared Leto, Ethan Hawke, and Bridget Moynahan. While discussing the 25th anniversary of The Truman Show with Screen Rant, Andrew Niccol, the writer and director, revealed details about the upcoming sequel. Though still in the early stages of development, Niccol mentioned that the movie will focus on the relationship between Cage's arms dealer and Bill Skarsgård's character, Anton, who plays his son.

Why Now Is The Perfect Time For Lords of War

During the early stages of pre-pre-production, indulging in Nick's character, Yuri Orlov, has become a guilty pleasure. Yuri and his son Anton possess a completely unfamiliar consciousness that lacks the moral compass most of us can relate to. While our actions are often restrained by a sense of morality, Yuri and Anton are completely unencumbered by such concerns. Kurosawa succinctly captured this concept with the title, "The More Evil You Are The Better You Sleep."

Despite being predominantly set in the '80s and '90s, Lord of War remained highly relevant upon its release due to the ongoing Iraq war, which prompted speculation about the individuals, similar to Cage's character Yuri, who sought to profit from the conflict without considering its ethical implications. Although more than a decade has passed since the end of the Iraq war and various films such as The Hurt Locker and American Sniper have depicted its specific events, there are still numerous real-life occurrences that can serve as inspiration for the story in Lord of War.

The Russo-Ukrainian war, which garnered significant attention in early 2022, continues to serve as a prominent source of inspiration. However, considering the way it is still fresh in the minds of many viewers, it may not be wise to directly depict Lords of War in either country. The original Cage movie explored the dissolution of the Soviet Union, with Ukraine playing a partial role. Therefore, utilizing a fictional country would still enable Niccol to effectively address the subject.

As evidenced in the original Lord of War, as well as Niccol's other projects like Good Kill and Gattaca, there will always be individuals seeking to profit from human suffering. This makes it challenging to touch upon a recent conflict like the Russo-Ukrainian war in a present-day setting for Lords of War. However, with the sequel featuring Cage's son, portrayed by Skarsgård's Anton, it will be intriguing to witness if the passing decades in the movie's universe have enlightened Yuri and led him to strive for a permanent exit from the arms trade, both for himself and his son.