# Nicolas Cage plays John Madden in David O. Russell film

> The actor takes on the legendary coach in a biopic arriving in November, with a trailer showing Madden's path from coaching to video game fame.
- Title: Nicolas Cage plays John Madden in David O. Russell film
- Summary: The actor takes on the legendary coach in a biopic arriving in November, with a trailer showing Madden's path from coaching to video game fame. Nicolas Cage…
- Keywords: nicolas cage, john madden, david o. russell, madden biopic, christian bale, john mulaney, ea sports, technology, Nicolas, Cage, plays, John
- Source: Engadget — https://engadget.com/2268356/nicolas-cage-is-anything-but-subtle-in-the-madden-trailer
- Author: Will Shanklin
- Published: 2026-09-24T21:10:54+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nicolas cage, john madden, david o. russell, madden biopic, christian bale, john mulaney, ea sports, technology
## Cage takes on Madden
Nicolas Cage plays legendary coach John Madden in a biopic directed by David O. Russell. The trailer shows Cage in a zany, wig-and-prosthetic-heavy performance as the larger-than-life figure.
## Bale plays Raiders owner
Christian Bale plays Raiders owner Al Davis in a decidedly more understated turn. Madden partnered with Davis to win the Super Bowl in nineteen seventy-seven.
## Health forces retirement
The trailer shows Madden grappling with health problems that force his coaching retirement. This sets up his broadcasting career, followed by the chapter younger generations know him for best.
## Mulaney pitches video games
Comedian John Mulaney plays EA founder Trip Hawkins, pitching video games to Madden. Mulaney declares, "This is it! This is the future!" in his best sleazy startup founder voice.

> This is it! This is the future!
## Madden rejects seven-on-seven
The film shows Madden's feedback shaping the first Madden NFL game. When Hawkins pitches a seven-on-seven game, Cage's Madden declares, "You only have seven men on a team, and I'm out!"

> You only have seven men on a team, and I'm out!
## Film arrives in November
Kathryn Hahn plays Madden's wife Virginia, and Sienna Miller plays Davis's wife Carol. Madden opens in theaters on November eleventh, then heads to Prime Video on November eighteenth.
## Key takeaway

Nicolas Cage stars as John Madden in a David O. Russell biopic tracing the coach's career from the Raiders to the video game that bears his name.