Con Air Sequel With Nic Cage Should Be Set In Space Says Director

Con Air director Simon West has revealed he would be open to the possibility of making a sequel to the 1997 classic, as long as it is set in space.

Con Air Sequel With Nic Cage Should Be Set In Space Says Director

A Con Air sequel with Nic Cage should be set in outer space, claims director Simon West, who helmed the original 1997 action thriller. The plot of Con Air followed Army Ranger Cameron Poe who, following a 10-year prison sentence for an accidental killing, boards a prisoner transport plane to Alabama, only to be called into action when the inmates take control of the plane. The movie grossed $224 million against a budget of just $75 million, and is widely regarded as a cult classic.

Cage enjoyed a career peak around the time of Con Air, which was preceded by hit Michael Bay movie The Rock (1996), and was followed by the John Woo action classic Face/Off (1997). English director West, meanwhile, made his feature film debut with Con Air, and has gone on to direct several successful movies since, including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and The Expendable 2. After enjoying recent success in Chinese cinema, with action-disaster film Skyfire, and the upcoming The Legend Hunters, West sat down to talk about the possibility of bringing back Cameron Poe.

In a recent interview with Screendaily, Den Of Geek reports that the 60-year-old expressed interest in a Con Air sequel, but on one condition. Clearly keen on the idea, West is quoted as saying, “It’d be great. It’s a matter of getting everybody together.” But he also chose to elaborate further, saying he would love the idea of Con Air in space – read the Wild Card director’s full comments below:

“I would do it if it was completely turned on its head. Con Air in space for example, a studio version where they’re all robots or the convicts are reanimated as super-convicts, or where the good guys are bad guys and the bad guys are good guys. Something shocking. If it was clever writing it could work.”

Whilst it’s likely West said this with tongue slightly in cheek, there is certainly a place for more off-beat ideas in Hollywood right now. Moving a franchise to outer space is typically a creative low point, akin to Hellraiser 4 and Moonraker. However, Cage is enjoying a renaissance right now, with the critically acclaimed The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and represents the ideal eccentric star to helm an ambitious and creatively unusual project.

It does seem unlikely that audiences will get the chance to see Cameron Poe in space, but it can’t be entirely ruled out. Movies from years ago are enjoying fresh popularity, and this has given rise to the discussion and development of unexpected sequels. Two of the most recent to be mentioned are Face/Off 2 and The Rock 2, so there is always space in the conversation for a Con Air sequel as well. Of course, much will depend on Renfield star Cage, an actor who has never shied away from bizarre and unorthodox career decisions, so fans of the 58-year-old should keep an eye out.