Nicolas Cage Will Play NFL Legend John Madden in Upcoming Biopic

Mar. 15, 2025

Nicholas Cage; John Madden.Photo:John Shearer/WireImage; Jim Spellman/WireImage

John Shearer/WireImage; Jim Spellman/WireImage

Nicolas Cageis stepping into the shoes of one of the NFL’s biggest stars.

The Oscar-winning actor, 60, has been tapped to play the lateJohn Madden, PEOPLE can confirm, in a new biopic about the American football coaching legend, broadcasting icon and gaming pioneer.

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John Madden in 1994.Focus on Sport/Getty

Maddendiedin December 2021 at the age of 85.

A towering figure in the NFL community, Madden had a five-decade career in the industry, beginning as a player in 1958 and ending in 2009 as a beloved broadcaster.

“Nobody loved football more than Coach,” the league said in a statement after his death. “Hewasfootball. He was an incredible sounding board to me and so many others. There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today.”

John Madden coaching the Oakland Raiders in 1969.Diamond Images/Getty

In the 1970s, Madden famously led the Oakland Raisers to a slew of championship games and their first Super Bowl victory in 1976. He retired from coaching in 1979, later kicking off a 30-year span as a color commentator.

“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,” wrote Russell. “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.”

Nicholas Cage at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024.Daniele Venturelli/WireImage

Daniele Venturelli/WireImage

Additional casting forMaddenis expected to be announced at a later date.

Cage won an Academy Award for his role in 1995’sLeaving Las Vegas, and was also nominated for2003’sAdaptation.He can currently be seen on the big screen inLonglegs.

Russell, 65, is also working on a biopic about singer Linda Ronstadt starringEmmynomineeSelena Gomez.

“I have no words to describe my heart for this project … years of hoping this dream would become my reality,” Gomez wrote on Instagram back in January. “Love your heart and soul for life and music.”

source: people.com