Wars often have devastating impacts on the mental health of its survivors. Soldiers that fight at the forefront are left with a sense of disillusionment, instability and depression as they return back to their homes. The 1990 film ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, which was directed by Adrian Lyne, focused on the impacts of the Vietnam War on an American Infantryman, Jacob Singer who experiences hallucinations centered in his past. Created by Carolco Pictures, ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ starred actors Tim Robbins and Elizabeth Peña in lead roles. Currently, LD Entertainment is working on a remake of the original film and this remake is rumored to star Nicolas Cage in the lead role. Being a renowned artist and a figure of style and versatility in Hollywood, Nicolas Cage was previously seen in ‘The Retirement Plan’, alongside Ashley Greene from the filmmaker Tim J. Brown. Some of the popular roles performed by Nicholas Cage that continue to be legendary include, Johnny Blaze in the ‘Ghost Rider’ film series (a character from the Marvel comic universe), Balthazar Blake in ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’, Ronny Cammareri in ‘Moonstruck’ and ‘Sgt. Joe Enders’ in Windtalkers.
The upcoming feature film is set to be produced by Mickey Liddell, a well known creator and the founder of LD Entertainment. Some of the films produced under LD Entertainment are, ‘The Miracle Season’, ‘Risen’, ‘Words on Bathroom Walls’, ‘Judy’ and ‘Forever My Girl’.
Reprisals From the 1990 Film
Since there has not been much updates on the upcoming feature film, information on the potential cast and crew additions are yet to be announced. Yet, being a remake, the upcoming ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ will have the same plot as the original film. The 1990 ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ began with the titular character, Jacob witnessing his comrades getting killed during their time in the Vietnam War. What follows in his inability to move past his experience with the war as despite working as a postal clerk in a seemingly secure job and a stable family, he continues to hallucinate on fictional things and alternate realities. In a shocking twist at the end, it is revealed that Jacob had in fact died during the war and all his post war life were just visions that he encountered during his struggle for life.
The film was initially remade into a film that premiered in 2019 with the same title. The 2019 remake made subtle changes to the plot whilst maintaining the crux of the story. It starred Michael Ealy in the lead role. It will be interesting to see how the upcoming remake will add its own touch to the story.
