Nicolas Cage addresses growing chatter of a sequel to 1997's hit action-thriller Face/Off... and confesses 'there has been some phone calls' with original film's producer

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Having jumped around from one film genre to another during his 40 year career in Hollywood has been a rollercoaster of a ride for Nicolas Cage.

Applauded and criticized for his versatility - to be able to jump from one film genre to another - the longtime leading man has been hearing the words 'career resurgence' lately, due in part to portraying a heightened version of himself in The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent.

While out on the promotional trail for the action-comedy film, the Oscar-winning actor teased fans by revealing he may soon be reprising his role as Castor Troy in a Face/Off sequel. 

Another installment: Nicolas Cage, 58, gave fans of his 1997 film Face/Off more than a glimmer of hope when he revealed he may be reprising his role as Castor Troy in a sequel

In an interview with Comicbook.com, Cage (born Nicolas Kim Coppola), 58, offered fans of 1997's Face/Off more than just hope that another installment might be in the works.

'There have been some phone calls with Neal [Moritz], who I enjoyed very much working with on the first Face/Off," the actor began, in a reference to the movie's producer. 

'He's one of the true great producers in Hollywood," Cage said, reiterating again that 'they have been making some calls.'

He also addressed some of the chatter about potential sequels to other popular films he has made during his career. 

'The other ones, like National Treasure, their priority was a TV show,' he said, while sounding disinterested in the project, adding, 'Godspeed to them, but maybe Face/Off.' 

More than just rumors: There have been some phone calls with Neal [Moritz], who I enjoyed very much working with on the first Face/Off," Cage told Comicbook.com, in a reference to the original film's producer

The original Face/Off film, which Cage starred opposite John Travolta, grossed $245.7 million on an $80.5 million budget, making it the 11th highest-grossing movie of 1997.

When calculating the purchasing power and the average inflation rate of 2.36% per year, the box office gross translated to 2022 would be the equivalent of $440.1 million today. That's a bonafide hit in either era, and reason enough for a studio to embark on a sequel film. 

The classic action-thriller film was directed by John Woo and also featured Joan Allen, Gina Gershon and Alessandro Nivola, among others, to go along with the lead roles played by Cage and Travolta.

The storyline follows FBI Special Agent Sean Archer (Travolta), who undergoes transplant surgery to switch faces with a criminal, Castor Troy (Cage), in order to go undercover to find the criminal mastermind who killed his only son. But things don't go as planned and the villain ends up escaping with the Archer's physical identity, and thus chaos ensues. 

Action-thriller: In the original Face/Off, the storyline follows FBI Special Agent Sean Archer (Travolta), who undergoes transplant surgery to switch faces with a criminal, Castor Troy (Cage), in order to go undercover to find the criminal mastermind who killed his only son

Cage actually rewatched Face/Off recently while preparing for his role as Nicky Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022).  And it turns out he really enjoyed it, and found that it has actually stood the test of time -  25 years after its release.

'I looked at Face/Off again, which I was really wowed by. I think that movie's aged beautifully,' he said, adding that he was 'fired up' by director John Woo and Travolta's work in it. 

Word of phone calls being made in regards to a Face/Off sequel must have happened in recent weeks. Just last month, Cage didn't sound as hopeful about another Face/Off seeing the light of day.

'I have not heard hide nor hair about it,' he said, adding, 'so often these things we read about are just conjecture without any base or foundation to it.'

He went on to seemingly visualize about potential sequels to both Face/Off and National Treasure:  'So, is it fun to think about? Sure. Would [Face/Off 2] be an exciting movie to make? Oh, h*ll yeah.'

With director John Woo in mind, Cage maintained it couldn't be a remake, but instead be a direct sequel to the original.

Bonafide hit: Face/Off grossed $245.7 million on an $80.5 million budget, making it the 11th highest-grossing movie of 1997; in today's money that translates to $440.1 million

As of February 2021, People reported Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard was set to helm a Face/off sequel, with Wingard writing the screenplay with Simon Barrett for Paramount, and  Moritz producing the film for Paramount.

Calling the original 'a perfect action movie,' Wingard made sure to pointed out that he and Barrett are only interested in writing a direct sequel, according to Moviemaker.

It's still unclear whether Travolta and Cage would reprise their roles in this particular project, or if the parts would be recast. 

Cage got his start in films with roles in teen classics: Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) and Valley Girl (1983).

His eclectic resume also includes Peggy Su Got Married (1986), The Cotton Club (1984), Raising Arizona (1987), Moonstruck (1987), Wild at Heart (1990), Honeymoon In Vegas (1992), Leaving Las Vegas (1995), The Rock (1996), Con Air (1997), Face/Off (1997), Snake Eyes (1998), Gone In 60 Seconds (2000), Adaption (2002), National Treasure (2004), Ghost Rider (2007), National Treasure: Book Of Secrets (2007) and Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance (2011).

More recently he's starred The Croods: A New Age (2020) and Pig (2021), while also having several films currently in some phase of post-production.

'Career resurgence' has been used to describe Cage in recent year, in part for taking on such roles as Nicky Cage, a heightened version of himself, in The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent, which premiered in theaters on April 22; he is seen arriving for his guest spot on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 20