Deadline reports that although Schumacher and Millennium Films are still planning to forge ahead, it will be without the services of their intended star.
The word is that although Cage was locked into a $7m deal, he abruptly withdrew late last week and promptly went off on holiday. Cage and Nicole Kidman were originally cast as a married couple who are taken hostage, however a couple of weeks ago Cage asked to switch to the role of the leader of the kidnappers, presumably feeling it to be the juicier role. Liev Schreiber has since been discussed as a possible replacement for the role of the husband, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Slash Film have speculated as to what Cage’s withdrawal might mean for the future of the project, given the box office draw that he represents. Although his output has been a little hit and miss lately (for every Bad Lieutenant there’s a Wicker Man), he is still a big name and would assure at the very least a strong opening weekend for the film.
Deadline have updated the story, quoting an inside source stating that subject to recasting filming would proceed as scheduled. The full impact of Cage’s withdrawal remains to be seen.