Nicolas Cage is set to star in C.L.A.Y, a psychological thriller directed by Simon Afram. The film revolves around a mysterious hacker collective known as C.L.A.Y, which stands for "Clowns Laughing At You" or "Clowns Laughing at You" in English. This group is portrayed as being far more dangerous than it initially appears. The story follows a solitary computer genius who is searching for purpose and joins the collective, only to discover that the group is not what it seems. The film is Afram's first feature-length project, and he has cited the popular series Mr. Robot as an influence. Mr. Robot is a television show that explores themes of hacking, identity, and mental health, and helped launch Rami Malek's career. The cast of C.L.A.Y includes Michael Sheen, Jordi Mollà, and Emilio Sakraya, all of whom have appeared in a variety of television and film projects. Filming is expected to begin as early as November 2026, with a potential theatrical release in late 2027 or early 2028. This will mark the second collaboration between Nicolas Cage and Simon Afram. Previously, Afram wrote the screenplay for Fortitude, an action film directed by Simon West. In that film, Nicolas Cage played the leading role. Fortitude is based on a true story about British secret agents who deceived Nazi leaders during World War II, an operation that had a significant impact on the course of the war. The film's cast included notable actors such as Matthew Goode, Ed Skrein, Alice Eve, Michael Sheen, Ben Kingsley, and Jordi Mollà. The success of Fortitude and the creative partnership between Cage and Afram have led to the development of C.L.A.Y, which promises to explore similar themes of deception, identity, and the hidden dangers of the digital world. Afram's transition from screenwriting to directing with C.L.A.Y marks a new phase in his career. The film is expected to bring together a talented cast and crew, with the potential to attract a wide audience interested in both psychological thrillers and cyber-related narratives. As filming approaches, anticipation is growing for what this collaboration between Nicolas Cage and Simon Afram will bring to the screen.