Nicolas Cage and Martin Sheen are among the latest stars to join the cast of C.L.A.Y., an upcoming psychological cyber-thriller that will explore the dangerous world of underground hacking. The film will mark the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Simon Afram, who is assembling an impressive ensemble for the project.
Cage and Sheen will star alongside Jordi Mollà, Emilio Sakraya and Adrian Topol in the upcoming thriller. The film centres on a young computer prodigy whose involvement with an underground hacker collective sets off a series of increasingly dangerous events.
Titled C.L.A.Y., an acronym for Clowns Laughing At You, the film follows a brilliant but socially isolated computer expert who discovers a sense of belonging after becoming involved with a group of underground hackers. Initially united by their shared interest in digital rebellion, the collective soon finds itself caught up in a much larger and more dangerous situation.
As the group’s activities become increasingly notorious, their online provocations begin to have real-world consequences. Their growing influence attracts the attention of intelligence agencies, criminal organisations and rival hackers, threatening to turn their underground operation into something far more dangerous.
The film promises to explore the intersection of technology, crime and human relationships, with its central character forced to navigate a world in which digital actions can have devastating consequences.
For Afram, C.L.A.Y. represents his first feature film as a director. The project also brings together several actors associated with his upcoming World War II espionage film Fortitude, which he wrote and produced for director Simon West.
The new casting announcement adds another high-profile project to Nicolas Cage’s increasingly varied filmography. The Academy Award-winning actor recently appeared in the horror film The Carpenter’s Son and previously earned considerable attention for his performance in Osgood Perkins’ 2024 horror hit Longlegs.
Cage is also preparing to portray legendary American football coach John Madden in the upcoming biographical film Madden, directed by David O. Russell. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Kathryn Hahn, Sienna Miller, John Mulaney and Shane Gillis. It is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on November 18, 2026.
Meanwhile, Martin Sheen brings decades of screen experience to C.L.A.Y., having appeared in acclaimed films such as Apocalypse Now and Badlands. His involvement adds another veteran performer to the growing cast.
Jordi Mollà, known for his roles in Bad Boys II, Riddick and Criminal, joins German actor and singer Emilio Sakraya, whose previous credits include Netflix’s Sixty Minutes and the crime drama Rheingold. Adrian Topol, recognised for his performances in Franz + Polina and Snipers Valley, completes the currently announced cast.
With its combination of established Hollywood talent and an intriguing premise centred on cybercrime, C.L.A.Y. is shaping up to be an ambitious addition to the psychological thriller genre.
Further casting announcements and additional details about the film’s release are yet to be revealed.
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