---
title: "Netflix Facing $105 Million Lawsuit After Unencrypted Nicolas Cage Film Disappears"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/netflix-facing-105-million-lawsuit-after-unencrypted-nicolas-cage-film-disappear-46c54
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
published: 2026-08-02T07:52:12.000Z
modified: 2026-08-02T10:01:03.701Z
language: en-IN
---

# Netflix Facing $105 Million Lawsuit After Unencrypted Nicolas Cage Film Disappears

Swiss producer Simon Afram is suing Netflix for nine figures following the theft of his $45 million World War II drama from their headquarters. The streaming giant claims it is not liable for the loss of the unencrypted digital copy.

## Key takeaways

- Producer Simon Afram is seeking $105 million in damages from Netflix for the loss of his film Fortitude.
- Netflix admitted that several drives were stolen from office desks, including the unencrypted copy of the $45 million production.
- The film stars Nicolas Cage and Ben Kingsley and took seven years to produce before the theft occurred.
- Netflix argues it is not liable for the loss because the filmmakers did not utilize standard encryption safeguards.
- This follows a previous 2023 legal dispute between Afram and Martin Scorsese over the same film project.

## Security Breach at Streaming Headquarters

A $105 million legal battle has erupted between Swiss businessman Simon Afram and Netflix after a digital cinema package of the film Fortitude was stolen from the streaming company's offices. Afram, who spent seven years and $45 million developing the World War II project starring Nicolas Cage and Ben Kingsley, alleges that the loss occurred after his team submitted the film for acquisition consideration. According to the complaint, an associate producer delivered the hard drive to Netflix’s headquarters in June. When the production team later attempted to retrieve the assets, the company admitted the drive was missing.

Sean Berney, Netflix’s director of original film, reportedly informed the producers via email that the theft was an unprecedented event for the company. The correspondence noted that multiple drives were taken from office desks and that internal security teams had failed to recover the stolen property. Netflix has since issued a formal statement disputing the claim, arguing they are not responsible for the risk of loss when films are delivered without industry-standard encryption and safeguards.

## A Legacy of Legal Friction

The disappearance of the footage is the latest chapter in the tumultuous history of Fortitude. Before this conflict with Netflix, Afram engaged in a legal dispute with Martin Scorsese in 2023. In that instance, Afram alleged that Scorsese accepted $500,000 for executive producer duties but failed to provide the promised support to launch the project. Scorsese’s legal team dismissed the claims as the unrealistic expectations of an industry newcomer and filed a countersue. That matter reached an out-of-court settlement in 2024.

### Key Litigation Details

- Total Damages Sought: $105 million for loss of intellectual property and investment.
- Production Cost: $45 million over a seven-year development cycle.
- Cast: The film features Academy Award winners Nicolas Cage and Ben Kingsley.
- Defense Argument: Netflix contends the producer failed to use proper unencrypted drive protocols.

Source: The Hindu – Entertainment

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/netflix-facing-105-million-lawsuit-after-unencrypted-nicolas-cage-film-disappear-46c54
Reported from: The Hindu – Entertainment