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NFL Fans Blast Nicolas Cage’s Appearance In Upcoming John Madden Movie After New Trailer Drops [VIDEO]

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

NFL Fans Blast Nicolas Cage’s Appearance In Upcoming John Madden Movie
Nicolas Cage and John Madden (Photo Via Instagram and Imagn Images)

NFL fans reacted fast after Amazon MGM Studios released the first teaser for its upcoming John Madden movie. The film stars Nicolas Cage as the legendary coach and broadcaster, and many fans were quick to criticize what they saw.

The movie, titled Madden, is set to release on Thanksgiving in 2026. The studio first announced the project in 2023 and said it would cover important aspects from Madden’s life. That includes his Super Bowl win with the Oakland Raiders, his close relationship with Al Davis, his rise as a TV star, and the creation of the Madden NFL video game.

Amazon MGM cast Nicolas Cage as Madden and Christian Bale as Raiders owner Al Davis. David O. Russell is directing and writing the film. He is known for movies like The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook. The studio dropped the teaser on Christmas Day.

Fans focused heavily on Cage’s appearance in the clip. Many felt the look did not match the larger-than-life football icon. However, their first look was released earlier this year.

John Madden remains one of football’s biggest names. He won a Super Bowl, changed how the game is covered on TV, and everyone started knowing him through the Madden NFL video game. Because of that legacy, expectations were high. For many fans, the teaser fell short, and they also didn’t like the actor choice when it was announced back in 2024.

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Nicolas Cage (Photo By Suzanne Cordeiro for American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Fans and analysts slammed Cage’s appearance soon after the teaser hit social media. Sam Monson of The 33rd Team questioned the casting in blunt terms.

“Maybe it’ll work, but Nicholas Cage as John Madden strikes me as absolutely ridiculous casting,” Monson said.

Others shared harsher takes on X. One fan wrote, “Nicholas Cage playing John Madden in his biopic was probably a bad idea.” Another viewer focused on the visual fit and said the look ruined the moment.

“This is so bad it’s to the point of being distracting,” the fan wrote. “He looks nothing like Madden. Fat Nic Cage in a bad wig is all I can see here. Good grief.”

Despite the criticism, Amazon MGM Studios is moving ahead with the movie. The goal is to honor John Madden’s influence as a coach, broadcaster, and video game icon. The studio has not commented on the backlash.

For now, the debate continues. Fans will have to wait and see if the final performance changes opinions or proves the concerns right when Madden hits theaters in 2026.

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