Nicolas Cage is about to make the ultimate play! On Thursday, August 15, it was announced that the 60-year-old Oscar-winner, who’s basically the acting equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, is gearing up to portray legendary NFL coach and sports commentator John Madden in the biopic “Madden.” Directed, written, and produced by the ever-creative David O. Russell, this film promises to be a wild ride!
David O. Russell, who clearly believes Cage’s face could be chiseled onto Mount Rushmore, declared in a statement to Variety, “Nicolas Cage, who may very well be the last unicorn of acting, will bring the pure essence of American maverick spirit to the role of the incomparable John Madden.”
Russell went on to describe the film as a heady mix of Madden’s legendary enthusiasm, the indomitable spirit of Al Davis (owner of the scrappy Oakland Raiders), and a time-traveling tour of the 1970s where everyone wore bell-bottoms and disco balls ruled the night.
For those who don’t remember, Madden was the rockstar coach of the Oakland Raiders during the 1970s, leading them to victory after victory and snagging their first Super Bowl win in 1976. After hanging up his whistle in 1979, he became the voice of football for over three decades. He retired from broadcasting in 2009, leaving a legacy as colorful as a Madden video game, which is named after him and still makes gamers question their life choices on a yearly basis.
As for who else will be gracing this cinematic touchdown? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see. Stay tuned!
