Sneak peak: First images revealed of Nicolas Cage playing John Madden in the biopic about the NFL coach and commentator

Nicolas Cage has built a reputation for his own esoteric brand of method acting - Nouveau Shamanic as he himself describes it. He’s played some iconic characters - who can forget his performances as H.I. McDunnough in Raising Arizona? Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas, “Sailor” Ripley in Wild at Heart...

Cage in character as John Madden - the man who was football

Now Cage will be stepping into the legendary shoes of the late football coach John Madden in the upcoming biopic Madden, currently in production under Amazon MGM Studios. The star-studded cast includes Christian Bale as Raiders owner Al Davis, John Mulaney as Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden, Sienna Miller as Carol Davis, and Shane Gillis in an undisclosed role.

Directed by David O. Russell, the film began shooting on May 13 in Atlanta, Georgia, and will chronicle Madden’s meteoric rise—from his Super Bowl-winning exploits with the Oakland Raiders in the late 70s to his groundbreaking role in sports broadcasting and the creation of the Madden NFL video game franchise.

The first images of Cage in character have surfaced, showcasing his dramatic transformation into the iconic NFL coach, broadcaster, and video game pioneer. The 61-year-old has bulked out to play Madden, a giant of a man in every regard, and appears complete with of-the-era shaggy blond hair and bushy sideburns.

Who was John Madden?

Madden, who never had a losing season as head coach, retired in 1979 and went on to become one of the most recognizable voices in football, working with CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC. His passion for the sport also led to the creation of John Madden Football, the only officially licensed NFL video game, which remains a cornerstone of sports gaming today. Madden passed away on December 28, 2021, aged 85.

While no official release date has been announced, the film is expected to premiere on Amazon Prime Video. Meanwhile, Cage is keeping busy—his latest films, Gunslingers and The Surfer, have just hit theaters

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