Nicolas Cage steals the show in the first full-length trailer for upcoming horror film The Carpenter’s Son.

The Oscar-winning actor, aged 61, takes on the role of Joseph in a unique adaptation of the biblical tale, which the writer and director assert is inspired by the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas.

The role of young Jesus is filled by British actor Noah Jupe, noted for his performances in The Quiet Place films and Wonder, while the character of Mary, Jesus’s mother, is brought to life by singer FKA Twigs.

At the beginning of the two-minute preview, Cage as Joseph is heard pondering, “What awaits us when we turn at last to death?” as he stands dramatically on a clifftop beneath a brooding sky.

‘Let my faith endure,’ he goes on, setting the scene for what’s to come. ‘Faith. My only strength to bear against the devil itself.’

The movie by Lofty Nathan is set to be released in theaters on November 14, just in time for the holidays.

Nicolas Cage steals the show in the first full-length trailer for upcoming horror film The Carpenter’s Son, an unconventional retelling of Jesus’ childhood

‘For years we live in hiding, driven from every home,’ Cage recounts over images of himself, Mary and Jesus crossing a barren landscape with a donkey. 

He then ominously reveals that his son – known simply as The Boy – ‘bears a power I cannot understand. A power I cannot contain.’ 

Another character is introduced in the trailer – The Stranger, played by Isla Johnston. 

‘I’m the accuser of life. I am the adversary,’ The Stranger tells The Boy. ‘And why I am here?’ 

The Boy replies: ‘To torment me.’

According to Magnolia Pictures which is releasing the film in the United States, the story takes place in a remote village in Roman-era Egypt.

Joseph, a carpenter, clings to his faith and traditions even as ‘his wife and their child are targeted by supernatural forces.’

The synopsis goes on: ‘A mysterious stranger tries to entice young Jesus to abandon his devout father’s rules. With every pull of temptation, the boy is lured into a forbidden world, as a terrified Joseph realizes that a demonic power is at work.’

‘Violent, unnatural events inexplicably follow Jesus, and he begins to experience nightmarish visions of the future.’

‘What awaits us when we turn at last to death?’ Cage as Joseph is heard saying at the start of the two minute clip as he stands on a clifftop under a darkened sky.

The young Jesus is played by British actor Noah Jupe, known for The Quiet Place movies and Wonder, while Mary his mother is portrayed by singer FKA Twigs  

‘For years we live in hiding, driven from every home,’ Cage recounts over images of himself, Mary and Jesus crossing a barren landscape with a donkey 

He then ominously reveals that his son – known simply as The Boy – ‘bears a power I cannot understand. A power I cannot contain’

Joseph clings to his faith and traditions even as ‘his wife and their child are targeted by supernatural forces’ and The Boy battles nightmarish visions of the future

Social media users jumped to X to share their thoughts, with one penning: ‘Can we genuinely not do this.’ 

Another typed out, ‘No thanks,’ and one added, ‘Another film I won’t both[er] with, why does Cage get involved with garbage such as this??’ 

‘Wth seriously, no. nobody asked for this,’ an X user also commented, while others had different opinions. 

One said, ‘That’s either going to be cinema history… or the wildest fever dream ever put on screen. Either way, I’m watching lmfao.’ 

‘Nicolas Cage in a biblical horror movie? That’s a combo I didn’t know I needed,’ a fan wrote, and one shared, ‘Nick Cage has been on his Horror movie arc and I am here for it.’ 

Another added, ‘Nicholas Cage as Jesus’ stepdad is not on my 2025 bingo card,’ while one X user also said, ‘This actually looks good.’ 

‘Biblical horror is a genre I didn’t know I needed until now,’ a fan penned, while one added, ‘I do wanna see this.’ 

A few weeks earlier, a 15-second teaser was also released to give a glimpse at the upcoming horror retelling – with other viewers also expressing their thoughts on social media at the time. 

The movie – which was was both written and directed by Lofty Nathan – is set to release in theaters later this year on November 14

Social media users jumped to X to share their thoughts, with one penning: ‘Can we genuinely not do this’

Another typed out, ‘No thanks,’ and one added, ‘Another film I won’t both[er] with, why does Cage get involved with garbage such as this??’

‘What the hell is this??’ one typed on X, and another asked, ‘Why would Jesus’ childhood be dark?’ 

A fan also said, ‘Still wondering why this has to be horror man,’ and another simply wrote, ‘Why.’ 

‘This movie will fumble harder than war of the worlds and Snow White which says a lot,’ one person predicted. 

Another commented, ‘Apparently, this is based on The Infancy Gospel of Thomas. I don’t necessarily believe in that gospel but I do think that it’s a cool piece of history so I’m curious about this movie. 

‘I can’t blame anyone for being offended by this though!’ they added. 

One shared, ‘I am SO intrigued by this film I’m so excited,’ but another wrote, ‘I have no words anymore man.’ 

Cage is no stranger when it comes to the horror franchise and played the role of a serial killer in the 2024 horror thriller film Longlegs. 

A few weeks earlier, a 15-second teaser was also released to give a glimpse at the upcoming horror retelling – with other viewers also expressing their thoughts on social media at the time.

Cage is no stranger when it comes to the horror franchise and played the role of a serial killer in the 2024 horror thriller film Longlegs; seen in 2024 in L.A. 

The actor was praised for his performance in the movie – which notably raked in $128 million in the box office on a budget of around $10 million. 

Cage has previously opened up about taking on roles in the horror genre and said, ‘I have always maintained that horror, when done well, is genuinely surreal. It’s dream logic. It doesn’t have to rely on physics or reality,’ per AP News. 

‘It can allow actors to express themselves in other ways besides that which is considered the arbiter of great acting, which is 1970s naturalism.’ 

The Ghost Rider actor continued, ‘That is good, but we’ve done it again and again, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.’