Lord of War has gotten a major sequel update. The 2005 movie, which was written and directed by Andrew Niccol (Simone, Gattaca), stars Nicolas Cage, Jared Leto, Bridget Moynahan, Ian Holm, and Ethan Hawke. The Lord of War story is based on true events, following Yuri Orlov as he goes from being a restaurant owner to an arms trafficker. The sequel Lords of War has been announced, with Nosferatu‘s Bill Skarsgård reportedly set to executive produce the movie and star opposite Cage as Orlov’s son, but it missed its planned Fall 2023 filming date.
Josh Horowitz recently interviewed Bill Skarsgård on an episode of Happy Sad Confused. During their wide-ranging conversation, the topic turned to Lords of War, which Skarsgård said is probably “happening next year,” referring to 2025, as the interview was conducted in late 2024 during the Nosferatu press tour. He reflected that his character is “charismatic” but also a “f**king a**hole,” and that the movie looks like it’s going to be “a fun one.” Read his full quote and see the original video below:
[Nicolas Cage is] a legend. And it looks like it’s happening next year… It’s a great script and I think it’ll be a fun one. The character, he’s a charismatic… f**king a**hole. And you saw the first one… It’s so cynical and so satirical and bleak and like everyone’s terrible, and it’s also kind of a dark comedy… I like that. I like when you laugh at terrible people… So I think that’ll be a fun one, yeah.
What This Means For Lords Of War
It Could Still Mostly Be Going According To Plan
The confidence of the Nosferatu star, as well as the way he did not shy away from answering the question, seems to indicate that Lords of War is still moving forward with the originally announced roster of talent, including having Cage on board as both producer and co-star. Producer Philippe Rousselet was also announced to return, as was Andrew Niccol as both writer and director.
Since Lord of War, Niccol has written and directed 2011’s In Time, 2013’s The Host, 2014’s Good Kill, 2018’s Anon, and the upcoming I, Object.
If the sequel is going to begin principal photography in 2025, this could indicate what its overall timeline is going to be. If it is produced at a similar scale to the original Nicolas Cage movie, the precedent of that movie’s production could help give a clue as to when its release date may come. Lord of War originally kicked off production in July 2004 before being released in September 2005. If the timeline remains the same and Lords of War does begin shooting in 2025, this means it could be released some time between April 2026 and February 2027.
Our Take On The Lord Of War Sequel Update
Its Fate Is Still Unclear
Ultimately, it still remains to be seen if the Lord of War sequel makes it off the ground. While legacy sequels have become more and more prominent and successful in recent years thanks to titles such as Top Gun: Maverick and Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the original movie was far from a smash hit. It only grossed $72.6 million against its roughly $60 million budget, so it seems highly unlikely that it ever turned a profit in theaters, which could be one reason for the sequel’s lack of a firm schedule and may result in it ultimately being scrapped.
Source: Happy Sad Confused
Loosely based on various true stories surrounding various real-life weapons smugglers, Lord of War is a crime drama film starring Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlov, an arms dealer who enters the business after a deadly moment in his youth, triggering his fascination with the trade. The film follows Orlov’s life and explores the dangers and chaos of the illegal arms market.
- Release Date
-
September 16, 2005
- Runtime
-
122 Minutes
- Director
-
Andrew Niccol
- Writers
-
Andrew Niccol
- Studio(s)
-
Entertainment Manufacturing Company
, Saturn Films
, Ascendant Pictures - Distributor(s)
-
Lionsgate