Nicolas Cage takes on the role of a mild-mannered husband, father, and academic in the upcoming satirical comedy Dream Scenario.
In this A24 production, Cage’s character, Paul Matthews, suddenly gains viral fame when he starts infiltrating the dreams of random strangers. The film, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and is set for a Thanksgiving release, explores the complications that arise when Matthews’ newfound stardom begins to have a negative impact on the lives of those around him.
In the trailer, he pleads, “I’m not actually doing anything to them,” suggesting that the bizarre experiences he brings into people’s dreams are beyond his control.
Dream Scenario also stars Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, and Dylan Baker. It marks the English-language directorial debut of Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, who previously gained recognition for his black comedy Sick of Myself.
Ari Aster, known for his work on Hereditary and Midsommar, serves as one of the producers. During the Toronto Film Festival, Dream Scenario received positive reviews from critics.
Michael Rechtshaffen of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “Nicolas Cage has never been as flat-out hilarious as he is in Kristoffer Borgli’s gleefully dark, savagely sharp satire… The star takes a whiny victim role and turns it into a master class in reactive comic acting.”
Cage’s performance in Dream Scenario has already generated Oscar buzz, with some suggesting that he could be a contender for awards. The film is a surreal comedy that satirizes today’s social media culture and its effects on daily interactions.
Dream Scenario releases in theaters on November 10, with a wider release on November 22.