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This July,Nicolas Cageis back again and more unhinged than ever in RLJE Films' upcoming featureSympathy for the Devil, and we’re absolutely here for it! The upcoming film is a psychological thriller that will bring viewers through a precarious and potentially fatal “game” as Cage’s character sets out to makeJoel Kinnaman’s life a living Hell. The film also marks the eighth RLJE feature starring Cage, which followsMandy(2018),Color Out of Space(2019),Prisoners of Ghostland(2021), and more.Mark Ward, RLJE Film chief acquisitions officer, previously expressed his excitement for the RLJE and Cage reunion, saying that Cage “doesn’t disappoint. In this film, Cage and Joel Kinnaman bring to life a suspenseful tale onscreen that will keep audiences guessing.”
As the release date draws closer, we’ve compiled all the information we know so far aboutSympathy for the Devil, including its plot, cast, crew, trailer, and more.
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When and Where Is Sympathy for the Devil Releasing?
Sympathy for the Devilpremieres onFriday, June 01, 2025, with the United States, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand included in the rights deal. The film will release simultaneously in theaters and On Demand.
What Is Sympathy for the Devil About?
For now, not too much is known regarding the plot forSympathy for the Devil. The story follows a man known only as The Driver, who is forced to drive a mysterious passenger – called simply The Passenger – after he is held at gunpoint. So, with no other options, The Driver does as he’s told, kick-starting a dangerous “game of cat and mouse where it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems.”
Watch the Sympathy for the Devil Trailer
TheSympathy for the Deviltrailerbegins with Joel Kinnaman’s The Driver who heads to the hospital to see his wife. In a voiceover, Nicolas Cage notes how ‘people always say “don’t assume the worst,"’ but that’s precisely what he thinks should happen. Cue Cage’s mysterious Passenger character holding The Driver at gunpoint. The Passenger’s motives aren’t quite clear at first, though he seems to hold resentment towards The Driver and people in general, as a devilish character is wont to do. As the trailer continues, Cage taps into his more deranged side, commanding The Driver where to go, eventually wanting to “play a little game.” The rules are simple enough: The Passenger asks questions, and The Driver must answer honestly, or people will die. Of course, with a chaotic character like The Passenger, things escalate very quickly, and The Driver desperately fights to stay alive (and escape). Along with the general plot, the trailer also teases some of the darker comedy that comes through largely with The Passenger. He may be causing trouble, but he’s certainly having a blast while doing so.
Who Made Sympathy for the Devil?
Sympathy for the Devilwas written byLuke Paradise, who makes his feature screenwriting debut with the film. Alongside the film, Paradise has a slew of upcoming projects in development, with his closest upcoming feature beingLost on a Mountain in Maine.Yuval AdlerdirectsSympathy for the Deviland is well-known for previously helming the featureThe Secrets We Keep.Sympathy for the Devilis produced by Nicolas Cage alongsideAlex Lebovici, who recently served as a producer forBill & Ted Face the Music, an executive producer forPadre Pio, and an executive producer forBarbarian.Allan Ungarserves as a producer and worked on projects such asBanditandGridlocked.Stuart Manashilis credited as a producer and is known for working on the recently releasedTo Catch a Killer,Medieval, and the seriesIrma Vep.Sympathy for the Devil’s executive producers areSpinning Gold’sChristian Mercuri,David Haring, andMarc Goldberg,David Sullivan(The Rise of the Krays),Tim Moore(Sweetwater),Bill & Ted Face the Music’sCourtney ChennandWaylen Lin, andJason Soto.
Related:First ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ Image Reveals a Sinister Encounter Between Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman
Who’s In the Sympathy for the Devil Cast?
Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman lead theSympathy for the Devilcast, with Cage starring as The Passenger. A longtime fixture in the film industry, Cage has had quite a busy couple of years, with a number of projects on the horizon as well. He kicked off 2023 as a gunslinger out for vengeance in the Western featureThe Old Way, which was released early in January. More recently, Cage tapped back into his vampiric side, starring in thehorror-comedyRenfield. The movie followed its title character (played byNicholas Hoult), who works as a henchman for the ever-demanding Dracula (Cage) and longs to escape to a new life. AlongsideSympathy for the Devil, Cage will next star inArcadian(formerlySand and Stones), aLords of Warsequel, and A24’sDream Scenario. Joel Kinnaman plays The Driver inSympathy for the Devil. Kinnaman has a lengthy filmography behind him as well, most recently starring in the Apple TV+ seriesFor All Mankind. He is also well-known for playing Rick Flag inThe Suicide Squad, as well as starring in shows likeHanna,Altered Carbon,House of Cards, andThe Killing. Kinnaman will next star inThe Silent HourandJohn Woo’sSilent Night.
Along with Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman,Sympathy for the DevilstarsKaiwi Lyman, known forDen of ThievesandAmerican Horror Story;Cameron Lee Price, who appeared in projects such asTwincidentsandFriday the 13th: Vengeance;Rich Hopkins, best known for his stunt work in projects likeSmiley Face KillersandBig Life; andAlexis Zollicoffer, who recently guest starred inQuantum Leap; alongside,Oliver McCallum,Nancy Good, and more.
