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Nicolas Cage's next 'Prisoners of Ghostland' is being directed by 'the most subversive filmmaker in Japan'

Is Cage on a career correcting course? After being mired in a slew of badly-made movies, the actor is making moves to appear in movies that will give play to his acting talent

Nicolas Cage's reputation has taken a hefty hit given the slew of poorly-made movies the actor has starred in recent times, but he will be hoping that his latest venture turns out differently.

The 'Con Air' and 'National Treasure' actor is all set to play the leading role in acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Sion Sono's first foray into English language movies.

Titled 'Prisoners of Ghostland,' Deadline reports that Cage will play the role of Hero, a notorious criminal who is sent to rescue an abducted girl who has disappeared into a dark supernatural universe.

The pair must shatter the evil curse that haunts them and escape the mysterious revenants that plague the Ghostland to make it back to safety.

The post-apocalyptic action thriller will be produced by Untitled Entertainment's Laura Rister, Eleven Arts' Ko Mori, Black Light District Entertainment's Reza Sixo Safai, and XYZ Films' Nate Bolotin, with the latter production house also said to be representing the film at the Cannes this week.

XYZ and Cage have worked together in the past as well. Cage starred in the action-thriller film 'Mandy' alongside Andrea Riseborough. It premiered on January 19, 2018, at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and has so far received praise from critics for a gripping performance by Cage. 'Mandy' is currently playing at Cannes' Directors' Fortnight section and will get a summer theatrical release via RLJE Films.

If Cage's performance in 'Mandy' is anything to go by, 'Prisoners of Ghostland' should be equally entertaining, especially considering how Sono is held in such high regard. The Japanese filmmaker, author, and poet has been called 'the most subversive filmmaker working in Japanese cinema today.'

His work on films such as 'The Room,' 'Love Exposure,' 'Midnight Madness,' and the 'Hate' trilogy has led critics to term him as 'one of the most idiosyncratic artists of his generation,' and 'the most recognizable, if not the most universally celebrated, director in Japan.'

Sono's past work should mean that the director will ensure that 'Prisoners of Ghostland' lives up to the lofty standards he has set for himself.