Here’s a surprise moment for your Friday morning. Fresh from a series of stirring star performances in psychological horror films Long-leggedIndie drama Pigand crazy meta-comedy The unbearable burden of enormous talentNicolas Cage is preparing to play NFL icon John Madden in a new biopic for Amazon MGM Studios. DeadlineAccording to reports, Cage has the lead role in David O. Russell’s Drive crazywhich traces the remarkable journey of the American football commentator and coach from winning the Super Bowl as head coach of the Oakland Raiders to his extraordinary rise to the face and name of the video game mega-franchise Madden NFL.
While O. Russell is no newcomer to biopics, he has directed films starring Mark Wahlberg, among others. The Fighter and the Jennifer Lawrence-led Joy, Drive crazy will mark a rare foray into the field for Cage, whose most famous role as a real person so far has been, well, probably as Nicolas Cage actually in The unbearable burden of enormous talent (Excuse USS IndianapolisHow strictly this film will adhere to the conventions of biopics remains to be seen, although interestingly, reports suggest that it is likely to be as much an origin story for the Drive crazy video games as it is the complete story of John Madden’s rise to fame.
“Nicolas Cage, one of our greatest and most original actors, will play the beloved national hero John Madden, embodying the American spirit of originality, fun and determination to make anything possible at its best,” said American hustle and bustle Filmmaker O. Russell said in a statement announcing the film. “Along with the wild style, determination and inspired individualism of Al Davis, owner of the underdog Oakland Raiders team, the film will be about the joy, humanity and genius that John Madden represented in an incredibly inventive, cool world of the 1970s.”
The Drive crazy The casting news marks the latest exciting booking for Cage, who was recently confirmed to reprise his role as Spider-Man Noir in Prime Video’s upcoming live-action series Spider-Verse. Spider Noir. When we will be able to see this show – or this Madden movie – will only become clear with time, as there are currently no release dates or further casting news. But whether Cage and O. Russell will make it Drive crazy into the end zone or drop the biopic ball at the end, we’re curious to find out. Get your shoulder pads ready, folks!
