Nicolas Cage Faces High-Stakes Chaos in Diner Thriller

There’s a certain charm to watching Nicolas Cage navigate mayhem, especially when the setting is as unassuming as a roadside eatery. The Academy Award winner, known for his knack for explosive roles in the likes of Con Air and Face/Off, is back at it again—this time, he’s at the centre of a night gone spectacularly wrong in Best Pancakes in the County. The premise? A con artist, a diner, and a situation that escalates far beyond the breakfast menu.

Word is, the story unfolds over a single, fraught night. The action is tightly contained within the walls of a small-town establishment, which quickly becomes the stage for a violent confrontation. Rogue federal agents, a quick-witted grifter with a chequered history, and a waitress with more to her than meets the eye all find themselves caught in a web of shifting allegiances. As the tension ratchets up, it’s not the pancakes that are likely to blow up.

Cast and Characters Stir Up Trouble

Shelley Hennig, familiar to many from her turn in Ouija, steps into the shoes of the enigmatic waitress. Justin Long, who made waves in Barbarian, is also on board, though his role remains under wraps for now. The ensemble promises a blend of sharp dialogue and unpredictable twists, with each character holding their own cards close to the chest.

Filming is already underway in Arkansas, lending the production an authentic small-town backdrop. The location, with its understated Americana, provides a fitting canvas for a story that’s as much about survival as it is about outsmarting the next person. The project is being handled by Fortitude International, who are gearing up to showcase the film at the European Film Market in the coming weeks.

Behind the Scenes: Creative Minds at Work

Ken Sanzel, both writer and director, is at the helm. The production team have described him as a “visionary” guiding the project.

“We’re thrilled to reunite with the iconic Cage, guided by the visionary Ken Sanzel,”

they remarked, clearly relishing the chance to work with the actor once more. The producing line-up includes Raja Collins, Eduard Osipov, Eric Brenner, and several others from Caliwood Pictures and Fortitude International, all of whom seem intent on delivering a film that balances wit with relentless pace.

Sanzel’s background is a patchwork of crime dramas and action fare, with credits on network television series like Numb3rs and Blue Bloods, as well as features such as Blunt Force Trauma. He previously directed Cage in Kill Chain, a film that saw the actor as a mercenary-turned-hotelier. Their latest collaboration arrives at a time when Cage’s career is enjoying something of a renaissance, with the actor moving from less celebrated projects to a string of acclaimed indie and studio releases.

Anticipation Builds as Production Progresses

Details about the plot remain closely guarded, but the combination of a claustrophobic setting, a cast of characters with hidden motives, and the promise of sharp, rapid-fire action has already generated a fair bit of buzz. The film’s producers are banking on the chemistry between Cage and Sanzel, as well as the unique energy brought by Hennig and Long, to deliver a thriller that stands out from the crowd.

With cameras rolling and anticipation mounting, Best Pancakes in the County looks set to serve up a proper helping of suspense, dark humour, and the kind of chaos that only Cage can truly master.