Nicolas Cage Tapped by David O. Russell to Play John Madden in Upcoming Film

Nicolas Cage, no doubt one of the best to ever do it, is up for the challenge of playing the late NFL legend John Madden.

Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr. came through with the exclusive on Thursday, reporting that Cage would be starring in Amazon MGM Studios’ Madden, directed by Oscar-nominated Silver Linings Playbook filmmaker David O. Russell. In a statement, Russell said Madden would see him telling a story focused on "the joy, humanity, and genius that was John Madden in a wildly inventive, cool world of the 1970s."

Despite what may be assumed, it sounds like Russell’s long-gestating project won’t resemble what most people think when they hear the word "biopic." Per a separate news hit from the Hollywood Reporter, citing sources, Russell’s Madden will also show the beginnings of what would become the massively successful Madden NFL video game franchise with EA Sports.

Complex has reached out to reps for Cage, Russell, and Amazon MGM Studios for comment. This story may be updated.

Madden died in 2021 at the age of 85. His impact, of course, didn’t stop with his undeniable coaching and commentating legacies. The aforementioned Madden series became a gold standard in sports gaming, and notably remains a powerful force in the industry to this day.