Nicolas Cage has delivered two of his best recent performances in his first Western films, The Old Way and Butcher’s Crossing. Now he’s back to the dusty frontier genre, and also back to showing his unhinged side, in Gunslingers in which he plays a “mad genius” seeking vindication in the Old West.
Cage stars alongside Stephen Dorff, Heather Graham, Scarlet Stallone, Costas Mandylor, Tzi Ma, and Randall Batinkoff in the film from writer/director Brian Skiba. Skiba is staying in the Western genre after directing 2023’s Dead Man’s Hand which also starred Dorff and Mandylor.
Here’s the synopsis: Reformed gunslinger Thomas Keller (Dorff) and mad genius Ben (Cage) are guided by spiritual leader Jericho (Mandylor) as they strive for vindication. While confronting their violent history, a brutal bar fight and deadly feud reignites between Thomas, Ben, and the notorious Five Points Gang. Now baptized and reborn, Thomas grapples with fresh challenges, testing his newfound peace amidst a town steeped in secrets, violence, and a relentless quest for revenge.
It’s a busy time for Cage, who is set to star in Lorcan Finnegan’s thriller The Surfer later this summer. He’ll also play the legendary football coach and commentator John Madden in David O. Russell’s Madden.
Lionsgate will open Gunslingers in select theaters and digital on April 11th.
