Nicolas Cage Discusses New Atlanta-Filmed Project ‘Vengeance: A Love Story’

Nicolas Cage is stepping behind the camera again to direct Vengeance: A Love Story which is set to film in Atlanta, Georgia. The National Treasure actor is starring in the big screen adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ Rape: A Love Story, and he recently signed on to replace filmmaker Harold Becker as director. Becker will stay on as an executive producer.

Cage will play a detective investigating the rape of a single mother by four drug addicts.

“I’m excited to work on Vengeance: A Love Story and bring Joyce Carol Oates’ bittersweet novel to the screen,” he says. “Storytelling has always been my passion and I’m honored to work with this talented team to tell a tale of the suffering too many women have endured.”

The 52-year-old last took on directing duties for 2002 project Sonny, starring James Franco. Cage has previously spoken about his willingness to cause controversy with his projects, noting many of the characters he played in the past were criticized.

“It hasn’t always been met with appreciation, but that is the beauty of the challenge: you have to stick to your beliefs,” he told The Talks for Details of his acting style. “I think that if someone does something really unique and original, chances are that it’s going to get criticized. A lot of my heroes in the past were heavily criticized for being different, like Edvard Munch and Stravinsky. These are people that broke the mould.”

Vengeance: A Love Story is slated for release in 2017.