Production on a major new war film starring Hollywood icon Nicolas Cage was abruptly halted by an East London council over fears about the public display of Nazi iconography. The incident caused a significant disruption to the shooting schedule for the historical spy thriller Fortitude.
Why the Council Said No
The controversy centred on plans to film at Waltham Forest Town Hall in September 2025. The production, which had begun earlier that month, intended to drape the building with flags featuring swastikas as part of its set dressing for the World War Two story.
While the council had initially agreed in principle to the shoot, it had set clear conditions: local residents must be consulted and ‘Nazi-era flags and symbols were not publicly visible’. However, the production schedule was suddenly brought forward from October to 15th September, leaving no time for the promised community consultation.
Compounding the issue, letters sent to residents by the location team explicitly stated that Nazi symbols would be highly visible. A spokesperson for Waltham Forest Council stated they were ‘very disappointed’ by the turn of events.
‘Because of these significant changes that did not honour our agreed conditions, and given the high level of sensitivity to far-right iconography, we felt we had no other choice than to refuse permission,’ the council said in a statement.
The Show Goes On in Greenwich
Despite the setback, filming for Fortitude did continue at an alternative location. The production moved to Greenwich, where locals were properly notified that any Nazi symbols on display were part of a historically accurate film set.
The film, directed by Simon West, stars Nicolas Cage, 62, as Serbian double agent Duško Popov – a figure believed to have inspired Ian Fleming’s James Bond. The impressive cast also includes Matthew Goode, Ed Skrein, Alice Eve, Michael Sheen, and Ben Kingsley.
The story depicts the real-life Operation Fortitude, the Allied deception plan in 1944 that used fake armies and double agents to mislead Nazi intelligence about the D-Day landings.
Greggs Feast and a Council's Film Legacy
Later, filming moved to Luton, where Cage reportedly endeared himself to the cast and crew by treating everyone to a hearty lunch from Greggs, featuring pastries, sandwiches, and sausage rolls. ‘Nicolas is a real man of the people,’ a source told The Sun.
Waltham Forest Council was keen to stress that the refusal was a one-off, highlighting its ‘longstanding and positive relationship’ with the film industry. The Town Hall has previously hosted shoots for the Apple TV series Slow Horses and the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. Hiring the location can cost over £22,000 for a single day with a large crew.
The council concluded, ‘We will do all we can to contribute to the enormous success of the capital as a sought-after location for filming and production.’
