# The Prince (2026 film)
**The Prince** is a 2026 American satirical drama directed by Cameron Van Hoy and written by [David Mamet](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-mamet), exploring the life of a troubled son within a powerful American political dynasty[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/). [Scott Haze](https://www.edgepedia.org/scott-haze) stars as Parker, a flailing addict who is the black sheep of the family, alongside [Nicolas Cage](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicolas-cage), J.K. Simmons, Giancarlo Esposito, Andy García, and Simon Rex[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). The film drew public attention before release because Mamet said in an interview that he had been asked to write a movie about Hunter Biden, while the director and star told Vanity Fair the finished film is nonpartisan and not about Biden[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writer | Cameron Van Hoy (director and producer); David Mamet (writer)[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/) |
| Stars | Scott Haze as Parker Scott, with Nicolas Cage, J.K. Simmons, Giancarlo Esposito, and Andy García[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/) |
| Genre | Satirical drama, United States, English language[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/) |
| World premiere | 2 June 2026[3](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/6040057/) |
| Filming | Los Angeles, California, June 4 to August 30, 2024[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/locations/) |
| Budget | $35,000,000 (estimated)[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/) |
| Production companies | Ardor Pictures and Manor House Films[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/) |
## Plot
Parker (Scott Haze) is the second son of a powerful American dynasty who has grown up in the shadow of his beloved older brother[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). As his father's high-profile presidential campaign ramps up, Parker's brother dies suddenly, forcing him to get his act together and assume a leadership role in the family. He writes a glossy memoir outlining his struggles with substances and atoning for past misdeeds, then becomes entangled in his father's ambitious, well-connected political operation, including shady overseas dealings, as the law starts catching up with him[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). The film also features a sex-trafficking storyline in which Parker conducts clandestine business in the Middle East on behalf of his father[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze).
One structural choice stands out: although the ominous, hovering presence of Parker's father is felt throughout, the father never appears on screen[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). Haze connected with this element personally; he grew up with an absent father, and the film literalizes the concept[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze).
## The Hunter Biden question
The film's development was publicly framed around [Hunter Biden](https://www.edgepedia.org/hunter-biden), Joe Biden's second son. Deadline broke the news of its development by labeling it a "Hunter Biden-inspired addiction pic," and Mamet told [The Daily Wire](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-daily-wire)'s Andrew Klavan that the producers "said they wanted to do a movie about Hunter Biden," agreeing on condition that he could write the script without interference and not call the character Hunter Biden while drawing from the real man's life[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze).
**The filmmakers reject that framing.** Director Cameron Van Hoy said the idea did not originate with Mamet but with him, and that he began "examining privilege and power and addiction," asking why there is a lack of accountability for people in charge that does not exist for regular people[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). He acknowledged that Hunter came up in early conversations as an example but argued "the movie's not about Hunter Biden, and I think anyone who can watch will probably see that," adding that Mamet "took it in a whole different direction" when he came on[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). Haze called the media framing clickbait: "If you watch the movie, it could be anybody." He made staying nonpartisan his stated priority as a producer[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). Van Hoy said the film is about fictitious characters in a fictitious world examining themes that exist today and have existed for a long time, mentioning Prince Harry as another "second son" he kept in mind[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze).
Connection to Sound of Freedom also fed the skepticism. The film is backed by Sound of Freedom executive producer Sean Wolfington, and Sound of Freedom, which starred Haze as a Homeland Security agent, was embraced as a right-wing phenomenon and by Donald Trump[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). Haze said he did not view Sound of Freedom as political and did not want [The Prince](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-prince) to become so[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze).
## Production
The idea originated with Cameron Van Hoy, who started in the industry as a teen actor before pivoting to filmmaking, and who first pitched the film to Scott Haze, a friend since he was 18[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). Haze's existing relationship with Mamet brought the screenwriter into the process[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). [Principal photography](https://www.edgepedia.org/principal-photography) took place in Los Angeles from June 4 to August 30, 2024[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/locations/).
It is Van Hoy's second feature, following the 2021 thriller Flinch[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). The filmmakers described the production's journey as unusually harmonious for a modern American independent film: it came together quickly with sufficient financing and an ensemble that included Cage, Simmons, Esposito, García, and Rex[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze). As of mid-2025 the completed film was seeking distribution and hoping to hit the film-festival circuit[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze).
**Crew and cast.** The producers are Scott Haze, Jo Henriquez, Cameron Van Hoy, and Sean Wolfington; the composers are Chris Egan and Laurent Eyquem; the cinematographer is Nikolaus Summerer; casting is by Lindsay Graham and Mary Vernieu[5](https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/images). The cast of about 45 also includes [Beverly D'Angelo](https://www.edgepedia.org/beverly-dangelo), Simon Rex, Azura Skye, Wayne Brady, and Inanna Sarkis[5](https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/images) • [6](https://elcinema.com/en/work/2089202/cast). AlloCiné lists the film as a 2026 US drama in color, with French release upcoming and no distributor yet announced[7](https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm%3D1000004916.html).
Haze described one Network-inspired scene, drawing on 1970s political thrillers and social dramas that Van Hoy used as reference points, as the hardest of his career: he cried backstage for two and a half hours after filming and could not move for a week[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze).
## Release and reception
Kinopoisk lists the world premiere as 2 June 2026[3](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/6040057/). As of mid-2026, cinema, DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, and 4K Blu-ray release dates in the United States remained to be announced[8](https://www.releases.com/p/the-prince). IMDb shows the film as completed with one award nomination total and one critic review[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/). A related trivia note on IMDb records that Nicolas Cage and Mamet had earlier worked together on a planned Untouchables sequel and a JFK movie, both of which were never made[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/).
## References
1. [The Prince, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/)
2. [Is 'The Prince' About Hunter Biden? Inside a Controversial New Movie, Vanity Fair (July 10, 2025)](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-prince-film-exclusive-scott-haze)
3. [The Prince (2026), Kinopoisk](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/6040057/)
4. [The Prince – Filming & production, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/locations/)
5. [The Prince (VI), IMDbPro](https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt32604452/images)
6. [Cast: Movie – The Prince, elCinema](https://elcinema.com/en/work/2089202/cast)
7. [The Prince – Film 2026, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm%3D1000004916.html)
8. [The Prince Release Dates, Releases.com](https://www.releases.com/p/the-prince)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Drama and biographical films (individual works) › Drama films 2025 › Coming-of-age and family drama films*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license