It looks like Nicolas Cage has once again found a truly eccentric project. It has just been confirmed that the National Treasure star will take on the lead role in Amazon Prime's adaptation of the fantasy novel Highfire. That means Cage will be playing an actual dragon.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cage has been cast in the new project based on Eoin Colfer's book. The Con Air star will play Vern, "a vodka-swilling, TV-loving dragon who lives in seclusion in the Louisiana bayou." In addition to leading the upcoming drama, Cage will serve as executive producer along with Davey Holmes who will direct the project.
The description for Highfire reads as follows:
"Highfire is set in a world where dragons once ruled the earth, and Lord Highfire ruled the dragons. Now, however, all Highfire rules is his shack in Honey Island Swamp. He now goes by 'Vern' and spends his days hiding out among the alligators, watching cable TV and drinking obscene amounts of vodka. Vern's world soon collides with that of Squib, a teenager mixed up in running booze for the local mob, and their mutual struggle for survival becomes entangled in a most unlikely friendship."
First of all, we're loving the idea that Cage is playing a dragon and a grumpy one at that. Needless to say, this might be something to truly look forward to in the near future.
The Highfire adaptation has not yet been given an official release date. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.
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