Actor Nicolas Cage's next role will be one near and dear to the hearts of football fans.
Cage will portray legendary NFL coach and commentator John Madden in "Madden," an upcoming biographical drama directed by David O. Russell.
"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," O. Russell said in a statement. "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."
Madden died Dec. 28, 2021 at the age of 85.
Raised in Daly City, Calif., Madden gained fame in a decade-long stint as the coach of the renegade Oakland Raiders, making it to seven AFC title games and winning the Super Bowl following the 1976 season. He compiled a 103-32-7 regular-season record, and his .759 winning percentage is the best among NFL coaches with more than 100 games.
But it was his work after prematurely retiring as coach at age 42 that made Madden truly a household name. He educated a football nation with his use of the telestrator on broadcasts; entertained millions with his interjections of "Boom!" and "Doink" throughout games; was an omnipresent pitchman selling restaurants, hardware stores and beer; became the face of "Madden NFL Football," one of the most successful sports video games of all-time; and was a best-selling author.
Most of all, he was the preeminent television sports analyst for most of his three decades calling games, winning an unprecedented 16 Emmy Awards for outstanding sports analyst/personality, and covering 11 Super Bowls for four networks from 1979-2009.
Additional casting for "Madden" will be announced at a later date.
Cage, 60, began acting in 1981. He recently starred in "Longlegs" which has grossed close to $100 million world wide.
Russell is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker who has directed hits such as "American Hustle," "Silver Linings Playbook" and "The Fighter."
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