A $105 million lawsuit has been filed against Netflix following the theft of a hard drive containing an unreleased World War II thriller starring Nicolas Cage. The legal action centers on security lapses that allegedly led to the loss of sensitive production materials.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, the incident occurred at Netflix's Los Angeles office. Several hard drives were stolen during the breach, including one containing a digital copy of the espionage film "Fortitude," which was produced on a $45 million budget.
The film's production company has initiated legal proceedings, holding the streaming platform responsible for the loss. In response, a Netflix spokesperson denied allegations that the company failed to implement industry-standard security measures. The representative stated that Netflix does not hold distribution rights for the film, emphasizes content security, and has taken necessary steps to support the creative team, including monitoring piracy platforms.
Reports indicate that Netflix obtained a digital copy of the film last June after expressing interest in the material. Although instructions were reportedly given to delete the files following an internal screening, the theft occurred prior to that action. The lawsuit alleges that Netflix failed to disclose whether a police report was filed and did not involve the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in an investigation, despite requests from the producers.
The legal complaint asserts that the incident has severely jeopardized the film's international release strategy and potential award campaigns, placing the $45 million investment and the project's commercial value at significant risk. Directed by Simon West, the London-set espionage thriller features an ensemble cast including Nicolas Cage, Matthew Goode, Michael Sheen, and Ben Kingsley.
