The Surfer: Release date news, cast details and more about the upcoming psychological thriller starring Nicolas Cage

Lorcan Finnegan's upcoming psychological thriller The Surfer is set for a theatrical release in the United States this summer as Academy Award-winning star Nicolas Cage gears up to grace the big screens once again. The plot revolves around a man whose life turns upside down once he makes a long-awaited return to his childhood town by the beach.

The movie, since its inception at the Cannes Film Festival, has been well-received by critics and has decent numbers on RT. With a star-studded cast and a screenplay by Thomas Martin, The Surfer promises to dive into an element of nostalgia clubbed with thrill and some action. The official synopsis, per IMDb, reads:

"A man returns to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son. When he is humiliated by a group of locals, the man is drawn into a conflict that keeps rising and pushes him to his breaking point."

When will The Surfer be released?

Expand Tweet

The Surfer will have a theatrical premiere in the United States on May 2, 2025, and Roadside Attractions is currently overseeing distribution. The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival featured the film during the midnight screenings and was also received at the International Film Festival Rotterdam earlier this year. On the other hand, Stan is holding distribution rights for The Surfer in Australia.

Who is in the cast of The Surfer?

The Surfer will feature Ghost Rider icon Nocilas Cage in the titular role alongside Julian MacMohan, playing the part of a man named Scally. Miranda Tapsell from Love Child will make her big screen appearance playing the part of a character titled The Photographer.

Among others in the cast, we have:

Nic Cassim playing the role of The Bum
Charlotte Maggie in the role of Jenny
Rahel Romahn playing the part of The Estate Agent
Alexander Bertrand in the role of Pitbull
Finn Little in the role of The Kid
Justin Rosniak as The Cop

The cast follows several characters who have not been given any names. Rather, they have been specified with unique identities, namely the Bum, the Kid, the Estate Agent, and the Cop. Any further details on the cast have not been revealed yet.

What do we know about the story of The Surfer?

The story centers on a man who goes by the identity of 'The Surfer,' and the actual name of the titular character (portrayed by Nicolas Cage) is still being kept under wraps. He makes a return to his childhood hometown, which is close to the sea, and plans to spend some quality time with his family.

Even though things start smoothly for the father-son duo, problems arise when some local boys make an appearance. They clearly are not amicable and do not want people who don't live near the coast to be surfing the waves. Thus, conflicts result once the Surfer hits the coast and gets ready to go surfing.

The locals insult him. Though matters settle for a while, the fire rages back once it becomes a regular thing. Triggered by the locals' discordant and uncanny behavior, his patience runs out of time. What follows is a series of clashes where The Surfer is portrayed as someone who'll do anything to get back at the ones who made him feel down.