Nicolas Cage has started filming his new action thriller quietly in Arkansas. The film, titled Best Pancakes in the County, is written and directed by Ken Sanzel, known for Kill Chain and The Replacement Killers, and features co-stars Justin Long and Shelley Hennig. The production is backed by Beno Films and Caliwood Pictures.
Plot Centers on a High-Stakes Night at a Small-Town Diner
According to Deadline, Best Pancakes in the County unfolds over a single night at a small-town diner, which becomes the scene of a deadly standoff. The story involves rogue federal agents, a slick con man with a dangerous past played by Cage, and a waitress with her own secrets portrayed by Hennig. As alliances shift and tensions rise, survival hinges on who can outwit and outgun the others.
“set over the course of one night at a small-town diner that becomes the epicenter of a deadly standoff involving rogue federal agents, a fast-talking con man with a dangerous past (Cage), and a waitress (Hennig) harboring secrets of her own. As loyalties blur and tensions erupt, survival depends on who can outthink – and outgun – everyone else.”
– Deadline
Recent Work and Collaborations of Nicolas Cage
After gaining attention this year as a chilling horror villain in Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs, Cage also starred in Gunslingers and another horror film, The Carpenter’s Son. He is scheduled to lend his voice once again as Spider-Man Noir for the upcoming animated film Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and related TV projects.
Alongside Best Pancakes in the County, Cage has several projects lined up, including the biopic Madden, the satirical drama The Prince, and the crime thriller Lords of War.
Supporting Cast Brings Horror and Action Experience
Co-star Justin Long, known for horror hits like Barbarian, Jeepers Creepers, and Tusk, has worked in action films such as Live Free or Die Hard and Galaxy Quest. He brings a diverse genre background to the project. Shelley Hennig, also known for horror films like Unfriended and Ouija, gained recognition from her role as Malia Tate in the series Teen Wolf and reprised this part in the 2023 Teen Wolf: The Movie.
Potential Impact and Release Prospects
Previous Cage films like Gunslingers and The Carpenter’s Son encountered critical and commercial challenges, unlike Longlegs, which earned nearly $130 million. Given that filming for Best Pancakes in the County is already in progress, the film could see a relatively swift release, possibly bringing a fresh success for Nicolas Cage and his co-stars in the coming year.
