After making quite the fashion statement and receiving an honorary Palme d’Or at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, John Travolta is returning to screens with a new crime thriller that’s actually part of a trilogy. However, you’d never guess that simply by reading the film’s description. Today, Vertical is excited to share a trailer for The Gentlemen Thief, a sequel to 2024’s Cash Out and last year’s High Rollers.
Yes, that’s right — way (WAY) under-the-radar John Travolta and producer Randall Emmett, who also directed the film (he ghost-directed the last two under the pseudonym “Ives”), have made three movies in which Travolta plays the thief Mason Goddard. Lucas Haas and Quavo have been his co-stars in all three, but his love interest changes, with Kristin Davis and Gina Gershon each taking turns in the first two movies, while the great Rebecca De Mornay, who played Travolta’s wife in the little-seen I Am Vengeance, presumably plays a similar role in the third. Saban distributed the first two, but Vertical takes over for the third.
It’s ironic that they’ve managed to crank out three movies because the other two largely passed under the radar, but I guess they managed to turn a profit. For a long time, Emmett was the king of the “geezer teasers,” cranking out dozens of quickie action movies often featuring icons like Bruce Willis, John Travolta, John Cusack, Nicolas Cage, Mel Gibson, and even Robert De Niro in small supporting roles. Willis’ involvement in these films became highly controversial once his declining health was made public.
In addition to starring in The Gentlemen Thief, Travolta leads the cast of Renny Harlin’s upcoming action thriller Black Tides. The upcoming film also stars Melissa Barrera (Abigail, Scream VI) and Travolta’s own daughter, Ella Blue Travolta (The Poison Rose, Old Dogs). A description for the thriller reads: An estranged father attempts to reconnect with his daughter and grandson, but ends up in a harrowing battle for survival when rogue orcas attack their boat. Black Tides is currently in post-production, though we do not yet have an official release date.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Travolta in anything aside from a fancy beret. Still, he looks to be having a good time in today’s trailer for The Gentlemen Thief. He’s still super charismatic, and there must be something to these films if we’re already at the third installment. Hopefully, audiences enjoy the show- but, well, it ain’t Face/Off.
Have you seen either Cash Out or High Rollers? Let us know if these movies are actually worth watching, as it would be nice to see Travolta in something truly entertaining.