Lords of War Trailer Is Finally Here, and Nicolas Cage’s Return Comes With a 2027 Release Date

Nearly 2 decades after ‘Lord of War’ became a cult favorite, Nicolas Cage is stepping back into the world of illegal arms dealing. The original crime drama, written and directed by Andrew Niccol, opened on September 16, 2005, with Cage as the gunrunner Yuri Orlov alongside Ethan Hawke, Bridget Moynahan, Jared Leto and Ian Holm.

The film earned $72.6 million at the box office, which Collider notes was an underperformance, but it went on to find a devoted audience on DVD. That lasting following helped pave the way for a sequel, first announced at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023.

Fans now have their first look at the long-awaited follow-up. As DiscussingFilm shared, the first trailer for the ‘Lords of War’ sequel, titled ‘Lords of War’, has arrived, with Cage and Bill Skarsgård leading the cast and a theatrical release set for January 22, 2027.

The short teaser opens with the bold message “HE’S BACK” and sets up the tense rivalry at the heart of the film. It offers an early look at the father and son’s intertwined battle for power.

Cage returns as Yuri Orlov, a role largely based on real-life arms dealer Viktor Bout. The story picks up years after his deal with a Sierra Leonean militia, when his legacy comes under threat from a son he didn’t know he had.

First trailer for the ‘LORD OF WAR’ sequel, starring Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgård. In theaters on January 22, 2027. https://t.co/rR4XRo7iwx

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 4, 2026

Skarsgård plays Anton Orlov, Yuri’s illegitimate son, a mercenary who launches a private army to fight in America’s conflicts in the Middle East. Rather than stopping his father’s wrongdoing, Anton aims to surpass it.

The 2 men end up competing for power, influence, and the same woman. Collider describes a rivalry in which ambition and betrayal make them bitter enemies rather than family.

Bill Skarsgard in ‘LORD OF WAR’ trailer. In theaters on January 22, 2027. https://t.co/f8hFu33KLh

— bill skarsgard news (@dailybskarsgard) November 4, 2026

Andrew Niccol is back to write and direct the sequel. Cage is the only returning cast member from the original film, and he also serves as a producer alongside Philippe Rousselet and Fabrice Gianfermi.

Laura Harrier, Sylvia Hoeks and Greg Tarzan Davis round out the cast, although their roles haven’t been revealed. Amir Mokri handled cinematography, with Álex Rodríguez as editor. The sequel took years to come together after its Cannes announcement.

Production was originally planned for later in 2023 and into 2024, but those plans changed, and Harrier joined the cast in February 2024. Hoeks and Davis came aboard in November 2025, the same month principal photography began in Belgium. Filming then moved to Casablanca and Marrakech in Morocco and to Budapest in December.

Vertical acquired US distribution rights to the film this year and set it for a theatrical release. The project is produced by Saturn Films and Vendôme Pictures as a US and French co-production.

Like the original, the sequel looks set to explore how arms dealers profit from death and destruction. This time, the conflicts in the Middle East provide the backdrop for the Orlov family’s power struggle.

Pairing Cage with Skarsgård gives the sequel a fresh dynamic while keeping its connection to the original. With the teaser now out, fans of the first film finally know when Yuri Orlov will be back in business.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!