‘Face/Off’ Was the “Dumbest Idea” Ever, Says Alessandro Nivola

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Actor Albert Nivola, known for his roles in “The Brutalist” and “Kraven the Hunter”, has labeled one of the most celebrated action movies ever made as “the most absurd concept” he’s encountered. It’s challenging to dispute this claim. Nivola, who garnered praise for his performance in the gritty historical drama “The Brutalist,” and faced ridicule for his part in “Kraven,” was referring to the 1997 action film classic that he starred in alongside Nicolas Cage and John Travolta.

Reflecting on his filmography, Nivola found that Face/Off still holds the title as his most popular movie on Letterboxd. He mused about the enduring legacy of this action flick and recalled his initial thoughts when presented with a tale involving a police officer and a criminal who undergo face transplantation.

Sure thing. Absolutely. To begin with, my first film was promising. After that, things took a turn (chuckles). It’s amusing because at the time I didn’t fully grasp the potential of that movie – perhaps during production, but when it was proposed to me, I thought, ‘this is the most absurd concept for a movie I’ve ever encountered.’

The Dumbest Idea Ever Will Continue, as ‘Face/Off 2’ Is Now in the Works

Despite Face/Off‘s seemingly implausible premise, it manages to be as entertaining as it is, largely due to the unwavering dedication from both Cage and Travolta, along with the intense, action-packed, and bird-flying direction of John Woo. Nivola further elaborated on his experience working alongside Nicolas Cage (they portray siblings in the film), all while showcasing his remarkable impersonation of the esteemed Hollywood performer.

I left and managed to persuade Nicolas Cage to view the Terry Zwigoff documentary titled ‘Crumb’, focusing on Robert Crumb. This film had been intriguing me for a while as it portrayed two siblings with extreme personalities. I made up my mind to pattern my character after Charles Crumb, Robert’s brother. Upon watching it, Nic expressed his approval, saying, “Alessandro, this is quite dark but I really like it!

Director Adam Wingard, known for movies like “The Guest” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” is currently working on a sequel to the classic film “Face/Off.” There’s been talk that both Nicolas Cage and John Travolta might reprise their roles. Although specifics about the project are still kept secret, it’s being suggested that the story will focus on the offspring of Cage’s character Castor Troy and Travolta’s Sean Archer. According to recent reports, “Face/Off 2” is said to revolve around the children of Castor Troy (Cage) and Sean Archer (Travolta), who are destined to have a showdown in the future.

Regrettably, since Alessandro Nivola‘s character, Pollox Troy, falls out a window and dies in the initial installment of Face/Off, it seems unlikely that he will reappear in Face/Off 2. However, if director Wingard is open to pushing the boundaries of this seemingly implausible concept, there might be a chance for his return.

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2025-01-06 20:06