In context: Nicolas Cage not too long ago performed essentially the most difficult position of his profession because the titular serial killer in Longlegs. The 42-year veteran actor now faces an arguably tougher position portraying John Madden within the upcoming Amazon biopic “Madden.”
On Thursday, Amazon MGM Studios introduced that Nicolas Cage will painting the late soccer legend John Madden in an upcoming movie directed and co-written by David O. Russell. Though the function is billed as a biopic, The Hollywood Reporter notes that insiders described it as “the origin story of Madden NFL,” the online game franchise.
“Nicolas Cage, one in every of our biggest and most authentic actors, will painting one of the best of the American spirit of originality, enjoyable, and dedication wherein something is feasible as beloved nationwide legend John Madden,” Russell stated in a casting reveal.
Nic Cage is one in every of my favourite actors, however I’ve problem picturing him as John Madden. It is a position seemingly tailored for comic Frank Caliendo, whose Madden impersonations (under) made him a family identify. I get that Russell was on the lookout for a severe actor quite than a comic, however why not? Final 12 months, Deadline famous that the director was considering Saturday Evening Stay alum Will Ferrell for the position.
Madden was a personality unto himself. His mannerisms, quips, and iconic voice are all a bit humorous if you concentrate on it. PC Gamer’s Wes Fenlon factors to one in every of his favorite John Madden strains from the film The Replacements.
“I like to see a fats man rating.”
“Why?”
“As a result of first you get a fats man spike, and you then get the fats man dance!”
That is John Madden enjoying John Madden. He would not want a script as a result of he made foolish remarks his trademark in shade commentary for 30 years. He was the grasp of overexplaining a play and developing with obscure factoids and anecdotes about gamers that no person ever questioned as a result of he was the legendary John Madden.
Madden by no means performed professional soccer due to a knee damage suffered throughout coaching with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958. As an alternative, he grew to become one of many youngest head coaches within the NFL when he signed on with the Oakland Raiders in 1969 at age 32. It was the one staff he would coach in his 10 years on the sphere. He retired with a document of 112-39-7 in 1979, making him one of the crucial profitable coaches in NFL historical past.
Shortly after beginning his new profession as an NLF commentator, Madden approached online game writer Digital Arts with an thought for a soccer sport. This seed ultimately grew to become Madden NFL, which launched its first sport in 1988 on the Apple II, MS-DOS, Commodore 64, and Commodore 128. Barring 1989, EA has launched at the least one new Madden NFL sport yearly for over 30 years, making it one of many longest actively-running online game franchises ever.
Though HR’s nameless sources describe it as a online game origin story, viewers should not go into it considering will probably be like Joh S. Baird’s Tetris movie. Whereas the Madden NFL franchise is a enjoyable a part of the legendary coach’s life, David O. Russell’s therapy appears to focus extra on the person and his earlier life with the Raiders.
“Along with the ferocious type, focus, and impressed individualism of Al Davis, proprietor of the underdog Oakland Raiders, the function will likely be concerning the pleasure, humanity and genius that was John Madden in a wildly ingenious, cool world of the Seventies,” Russell stated, seemingly contradicting claims that it is a Madden NFL origin story.
Whatever the plot, whether or not you’re a fan of the online game, the NFL, or the person himself, the film ought to show entertaining, even when solely to see Cage’s personification of the late soccer legend. There is no phrase on a launch date but, however HR claims the challenge is “nearing the tip zone.” I am unable to wait to see a trailer.
Picture credit score: Nicolas Genin
