An alleged theft of a master copy of an unreleased Nicolas Cage film from Netflix‘s Hollywood office has sparked concern across Hollywood. The incident has raised questions about studio security and how sensitive movie files are protected. Filmmakers say the situation has heightened concerns among creators who rely on studios to safeguard confidential materials. The controversy has also led to a legal battle between the film’s producer and Netflix.
Filmmakers view stolen Nicolas Cage movie master as major studio security red flag
According to a lawsuit filed by writer-producer Simon Afram, Netflix failed to properly protect a master copy of “Fortitude,” a World War II thriller starring Nicolas Cage. Afram alleges that the studio “recklessly, carelessly, and negligently” handled the movie’s confidential materials after someone allegedly stole hard drives containing the film from Netflix’s Hollywood offices. Page Six Hollywood covered Afram’s breach-of-contract lawsuit against the streamer. Netflix has denied the allegations.
The lawsuit states that “Fortitude” associate producer Daniel Haido delivered an unencrypted digital cinema package to Netflix on June 15 after the company requested a version suitable for theatrical use. According to the court filing, the film was viewed by Netflix executives within 24 hours. On June 25, a Netflix employee informed the film team that someone had stolen several drives from office desks. The employee also said that Netflix’s security and piracy teams were working on the matter.
Several filmmakers told the outlet that the alleged theft had raised concerns. One director described the situation as “legitimately scary” and said it could damage filmmakers’ ability to secure a major distribution deal. Another filmmaker questioned how a company the size of Netflix could experience such a security issue.
Netflix said it took action after learning about the missing DCP and notified its internal security team and the “Fortitude” team. The company also said it investigated the incident and would help track any unauthorized distribution. Netflix denied responsibility for the loss and accused Afram’s legal team of making “hostile attempts to extort money.” Afram later filed a defamation lawsuit, alleging that Netflix’s accusation unjustifiably accused his legal team of criminal conduct.
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