First Teaser for David O. Russell’s ‘Madden’ Reveals Nicolas Cage as Football Icon John Madden

The first trailer for Madden has officially been released, giving audiences their first real look at Nicolas Cage as legendary football coach and broadcaster John Madden. The film is directed by David O. Russell and tells the story of Madden’s life both on and off the field.

According to information shared by the filmmakers and production updates, the movie focuses not only on Madden’s football career but also on his role in helping create the hugely popular Madden NFL video game series. The trailer hints at how big an impact Madden had on sports and pop culture, especially for generations of football fans.

There is only one John Madden. Thanksgiving 2026. #MaddenMovie pic.twitter.com/MPRWSbQZoe

— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) December 26, 2025

Nicolas Cage leads the cast as John Madden. He is joined by Christian Bale, who plays Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. Kathryn Hahn appears as Madden’s wife, Virginia. John Mulaney takes on the role of Trip Hawkins, the founder of Electronic Arts. Sienna Miller plays Carol Davis, Al Davis’ wife, while Shane Gillis and Joel Murray round out the cast.

The project has been in development for several years. Early on, Will Ferrell was linked to the role of John Madden, but that changed in 2023 when Cage officially signed on. Filming began in April in Atlanta. During production, reports surfaced of tension on set involving director David O. Russell, with some crew members allegedly walking off after a dispute.

With the trailer now out, interest in the film is growing fast. Madden looks set to explore the legacy of a man who changed football forever and became a familiar face in millions of living rooms.

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