Nic Cage’s new project has fans calling his NFL legend casting ‘unhinged’

Carsen HoladayThu, August 6, 2026 at 9:16 PM UTC

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Nicolas Cage is playing NFL legend John Madden in David O. Russell's new movie (Prime Video)

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Nicolas Cage looks unrecognizable in the teaser trailer for his latest project, and fans are baffled at his casting.

Amazon Prime Video announced Thursday that a John Madden biopic — directed by David O. Russell and starring Cage as the legendary NFL sportscaster — will be released on the platform in November.

Fans were quick to share their reactions to the trailer on social media, with most of the buzz revolving around the decision to cast Cage as the late coach.

“Nicolas Cage playing John Madden is the most unhinged casting decision of the decade,” one person wrote on X. Another commented on YouTube: “I never thought Nick Cage would enter his John Madden phase.”

Another shared on X: “Nicolas Cage as John Madden is the most chaotic casting choice yet and somehow people are acting surprised.”

“Cage as Madden is either going to be iconic or completely unhinged. No in between. I’m here for it either way,” another commenter wrote.

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Others were more taken aback by what the footage showed of Christian Bale’s performance as former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis.

“Man I wish they did a full Al Davis Christian Bale biopic,” one person wrote on YouTube. Another commented: “RAAAAAIIIIDDDEEEERRRSSSS. My goodness. Christian Bale sounds so much like Al Davis.”

In addition to Cage and Bale, Madden will star Kathryn Hahn, John Mulaney and Shane Gillis. The film will follow Madden’s career with the Oakland Raiders, his later successful broadcasting career, and his involvement in the creation of the Madden NFL video game franchise.

Christian Bale plays Al Davis and Nicolas Cage plays John Madden in 'Madden' (Chuck Zlotnick)

“Accepting the role to play this larger-than-life legend has been a highlight for me,” Cage said in the video announcing the release date. “John Madden didn’t just coach football; he changed the game. His football brilliance was unmatched. As a coach, John was a savant, seeing the field in ways no one else could. As a broadcaster, his brilliance evolved.”

He added: “His legacy lives on, not just on the football field or the broadcast booth, but globally through gaming.”

Earlier this year, Cage said on the New York Times podcast The Interview that Russell has been one of the only directors to offer him a role after he rejected another one previously.

“Most of them, they get their feelings hurt and don’t call you back. It’s happened a million times to me,” Cage said at the time. “It’s happened with Christopher Nolan, it’s happened with Woody Allen, it’s happened with Paul Thomas Anderson. They don’t call me back.”

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Source: “AOL Sports”