Film legend Nicolas Cage is set to star as John Madden in a new film based on his life as a coach and commentator, and later the hit game franchise named after him, Madden NFL.
The new report (via Hollywood Reporter) confirms the film is finally coming to a reality after months, if not years of development under director David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle) with Amazon MGM Studios producing the film. Russell wrote the script, based on an earlier version by Cambron Clark.
While many expect the new Madden film to be a biopic of the sports legend’s life or some kind of drama like Russell’s previously outing with 2010’s The Fighter, it’s a film mostly focused on the origins of Madden NFL, the popular annual American football game series.
The new film will fall under Prime Sports Originals and is being produced by Todd Black, as well as Escape Artists’ Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, and Jonathan Shukat all co-producing alongside Russell and Matthew Budman. Escape Artist is currently prepping a live-action adaptation of Masters of the Universe for Amazon.
John Earl Madden got his start in American football in the 1958 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, serving as an offensive lineman, though his season was cut short by a collarbone injury. He went on to become one of the most successful coaches in the history of the sport, mostly for the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s.
Madden’s career in the sport is arguably not remembered as much as his decades-long commentary on the sport after he retired from coaching, which led to him lending his name, voice, and expertise to the game franchise that became Madden NFL.
“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.”
Russel casting Cage as Madden comes after months of figuring out scheduling with various stars to fill the film’s roles. Hugh Jackman was reportedly attached to the projector off and on for a time last year.
