I’m not sure if audiences are ready for a biopic about John Madden, but it’s happening—starring Nicholas Cage.
Nicholas Cage will portray football icon John Madden, while Christian Bale takes on the role of Al Davis, the Raiders’ owner, in Amazon MGM’s “Madden.” https://t.co/fvdpz3cnqa
– Deadline
Deadline shared a first look at Cage as the renowned football coach, alongside a remarkably transformed Bale as Davis. I have to admit, I always imagined Davis as a figure found alongside a spiral-cut ham in the California desert, but this really shows how far one can go with a transformation.
Regarding the film Madden, it will explore John’s iconic time with the Raiders and the creation of a video game he’s famous for. John Mulaney is set to portray former Electronic Arts headtrip Hawkins, with Kathryn Hearn playing Virginia Madden.
There’s plenty that could go wrong here, but with David O. Russell at the helm of Madden, there’s a notable track record from films like Silver Linings Playbook, Joy, The Fighter, and Three Kings.
It’s hard to see Nicholas Cage as anyone other than the extreme version of himself. I wonder if that will work for John Madden? The film is scheduled for release in 2026.
