Nicolas Cage and Maria Bakalova to star in true crime film

Nicolas Cage, Alexander Ludwig, Gabriel Basso, and Maria Bakalova are set to star in the upcoming true crime feature film titled The Brand. Deadline and Mezha.net both reported on November 4, 2026, that the four actors have signed on to the project. The film focuses on the Aryan Brotherhood and is based on an investigative magazine piece. [1][2]

According to Deadline, the feature film relies on an investigative article written for The New Yorker by journalist David Grann. The report notes that Cage previously starred in Longlegs, Ludwig appeared in the Bad Boys franchise, Basso starred in The Night Agent, and Bakalova was featured in The Apprentice. [1]

David Grann is an American journalist, an author, and a staff writer for The New Yorker. His previous investigative non-fiction work has served as the source material for several major Hollywood feature adaptations, including Killers of the Flower Moon. Bakalova previously starred as Tutar Sagdiyev in the 2020 mockumentary feature film Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. [1][3][4]

The news comes as studios continue to adapt high-profile print journalism into feature projects, tapping established talent for real-life crime narratives. Production details and release schedules for the movie have not yet been announced. [1][2]