Nicolas Cage has been set to take on the role of the NFL’s John Madden in David O. Russell’s biopic on the sports icon.
Written, directed and produced by Russell, there had been reports that Will Ferrell and Hugh Jackman were eyed for the film before Cage was cast.
John Madden, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 85, was the robust and talkative head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s. He led the team to multiple championship games and secured its first Super Bowl victory. After retiring from coaching in 1979, he became a prominent figure in television football coverage, serving as a commentator for three decades. Additionally, he is the namesake of the popular video game franchise ‘Madden NFL’ and remained involved in providing creative input for the series even after retiring as a broadcaster in 2009.
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“Nicolas Cage, one of our greatest and most original actors, will portray the best of the American spirit of originality, fun, and determination in which anything is possible as beloved national legend John Madden,” Russell commented in a statement.
Additional casting for the biographical drama will be announced shortly, according to the studio. Todd Black will also produce with Escape Artists’ Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch and Jonathan Shukat, alongside Matthew Budman. Escape Artists partner David Bloomfield will executive produce.
