Nicolas Cage will star as football coach and sports commentator John Madden for Amazon MGM Studios with director David O. Russell at the helm. Fans may immediately conclude that this is a sports biopic, but instead, it’s a video game film based on Madden NFL.
Madden served as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s and worked as a commentator for about 30 years. Moreover, he was also a recipient of 16 Sports Emmy Awards.
Fans Don’t Think Nicolas Cage Should Play John Madden
In a statement from David O. Russell acquired by The Hollywood Reporter, he announced the casting of veteran actor Nicolas Cage for the lead role. The director also toiled with the script which he reworked from an earlier version penned by Cambron Clark.
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.
The National Treasure star landed on the project following Russell’s hunt for a star power that would get his project off the ground. In fact, actor Hugh Jackman was also considered for the part.
Cage’s casting was met with criticism from fans. Many aren’t really happy with him taking on the role. He’s one of the biggest A-listers today but netizens couldn’t see any resemblance with John Madden. Check out their tweets below:
Some fans notably mentioned comedian Frank Caliendo suits the part better. Appearance-wise, he definitely would have an edge, although it remains to be seen how Cage will perform in the film.
George Clooney Recalled On-Set Feud With David O. Russell
Following Cage’s upcoming collaboration with Russell, the director notoriously had a feud with another veteran star George Clooney. In a recent comment via GQ magazine, the actor brought up the issue again.
It’s not just like, ‘Oh, I’m going to go do a really good film, like “Three Kings,” and I’m going to have a miserable f—k like David O. Russell making my life hell. Making every person on the crew’s life hell.’ It’s not worth it.
They notably had an encounter on the set of 1999’s Three Kings where Russell “yelled and screamed at people all day” that it reached a point where the director got physical with an extra. Clooney knew he had to do something at the time.
They had already made peace back in 2014, but the actor recalled the experience all of a sudden in his most recent interview. Soon we’ll find out Cage and Russell’s dynamics once the filming for Madden commences.
Madden has no release date yet.
