John Madden was a Super Bowl-winning coach, the most famous voice in football broadcasting and the name on the best-selling sports video game of all time. Now he’s getting a movie, with Nicolas Cage in the headset.
Madden follows his friendship with Raiders owner Al Davis, from their Super Bowl partnership to Madden’s second life in the broadcast booth and the creation of the Madden NFL game. Here’s who plays who.
| Movie | Madden |
| Release | November 18, 2026 (Prime Video and select theaters) |
| Director | David O. Russell |
| Writers | David O. Russell, Cambron Clark |
| Runtime | 1 hr 50 min |
| Executive producers include | Michael Strahan |
| Filmed | Atlanta, from April 2025 |
Madden cast: who plays who
| Actor | Plays | Who they were |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolas Cage | John Madden | Raiders head coach, broadcaster, video game icon |
| Christian Bale | Al Davis | Raiders owner and Madden’s best friend |
| Kathryn Hahn | Virginia Madden | John’s wife |
| Sienna Miller | Carol Davis | Al’s wife |
| John Mulaney | Trip Hawkins | Founder of Electronic Arts |
| Shane Gillis | Not yet revealed |
Nicolas Cage as John Madden
Cage plays Madden across decades, from the sideline-stalking Raiders coach to the booming TV analyst. It’s a big transformation for the Oscar winner (Leaving Las Vegas), who was cast in 2023 after Will Ferrell was originally in talks for the part.
Christian Bale as Al Davis
Bale plays the legendary, combative Raiders owner whose “Just win, baby” attitude defined the franchise. Bale has played real people before, winning an Oscar for The Fighter and transforming into Dick Cheney for Vice. This is his fourth film with David O. Russell after The Fighter, American Hustle and Amsterdam.
Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden
Hahn, known for WandaVision‘s Agatha Harkness and Mrs. Fletcher, plays Madden’s wife Virginia. Their marriage is one of the threads the film highlights.
Sienna Miller as Carol Davis
Miller (American Sniper, Anatomy of a Scandal) plays Al Davis’s wife, Carol.
John Mulaney as Trip Hawkins
The stand-up star and former SNL writer plays the founder of Electronic Arts, who convinced Madden to put his name on a football game. John Madden Football launched in 1988 and became the Madden NFL franchise.
Shane Gillis
The stand-up comic and Tires creator joined the cast in May 2025. His role hasn’t been officially revealed.
What is Madden about?
Amazon describes it as a film inspired by “a beloved American icon.” It follows Madden’s journey with his best friend Al Davis, from their Super Bowl-winning partnership with the Oakland Raiders (Madden coached the team from 1969 to 1978 and won Super Bowl XI) to his career as football’s best-known broadcaster and the creation of the Madden NFL video game. Madden died in December 2021 at 85.
FAQ
When does Madden come out?
November 18, 2026, on Prime Video and in select theaters.
Who plays John Madden in the movie?
Nicolas Cage.
Who plays Al Davis in Madden?
Christian Bale.
Who plays Madden’s wife?
Kathryn Hahn plays Virginia Madden.
Who does John Mulaney play in Madden?
Trip Hawkins, the founder of Electronic Arts.
Who directed Madden?
David O. Russell.
Watch the official trailer on YouTube.
