Nicholas Cage will portray John Madden in football biopic: Reports

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Boom! The John Madden biopic has found the actor who will portray the legendary football coach and commentator.

Nicholas Cage will play Madden in director David O. Russell’s upcoming drama, according to multiple reports.

“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 said in a statement. “Together with the ferocious style, focus, and inspired individualism of Al Davis, owner of the underdog Oakland Raiders, the feature will be about the joy, humanity and genius that was John Madden in a wildly inventive, cool world of the 1970s.”

Cage probably isn’t the first actor one would think of to portray the bombastic Madden, but who knows, maybe it will work.

Madden died in 2021 at 85. He was best known to some as a Super Bowl-winning Oakland Raiders head coach. To others, he was the legendary broadcaster of NFL games and for many, he’s the guy from the video game series.

Amazon MGM is backing Madden, which will be written, directed and produced by Russell. The filmmaker was reportedly considering Will Ferrell and Hugh Jackman to star in the film before Cage was cast, according to Variety.

Additional casting for Madden will be announced at a later date, according to the studio. Todd Black will also produce Madden with Escape Artists’ Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch and Jonathan Shukat, alongside Matthew Budman. Escape Artists partner David Bloomfield will executive produce.

Deadline Hollywood first reported the news of Cage’s casting.

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