Nicolas Cage will play the title role of John Madden in David O Russell’s Madden, and here are the details.
Writer and director David O Russell began his career directing dark comedies like Spanking the Monkey, Flirting With Disaster, Three Kings, and I Heart Huckabees, before gaining critical acclaim for biographical sports drama The Fighter. He then directed several award winning dramas, including Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Despite reports of animosity between O Russell and his actors, he continues to make high profile films, most recently Amsterdam.
His next film will be Madden, a biopic of NFL player John Madden. The film will chart his rise from the head coach of the Oakland Raiders to becoming one of the greatest football reporters in America.
According to Deadline, Nicolas Cage has been cast as Madden. It is the latest in a string of eclectic films for Cage, which in recent years have included the brilliant Pig, The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent and Renfield.
Cambron Clark wrote the screenplay, which O Russell rewrote into the final shooting script.
O Russell said that “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. 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”.
It’s a busy time for Nicolas Cage. Longlegs is currently in cinemas and psychological thriller The Surfer is due for release this year. He is also playing the title character in the Marvel television series Spider-Man Noir, which will air next year.
We’ll keep you updated on Madden as we hear more.
