MADDEN brings the story of one of football’s most recognizable names to the big screen, with Nicolas Cage portraying legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden and Christian Bale playing Al Davis.
Directed by David O. Russell, the drama explores Madden’s career, his close relationship with Davis, and the path that eventually led to the creation of the Madden NFL video game franchise.
Madden
- Director: David O. Russell
- Starring: Nicolas Cage, Christian Bale, John Mulaney, Kathryn Hahn, Sienna Miller, Shane Gillis, Sergio Duque, David Lengel
- Genre: Drama, History
The Story Behind the Name
The film follows John Madden across several stages of his remarkable career.
At the centre of the story is his longtime friendship and partnership with Al Davis, taking audiences from the Raiders’ Super Bowl success into Madden’s emergence as one of football’s best-known voices.
The story also covers another major part of Madden’s legacy: the creation of the Madden NFL video game, which would carry his name far beyond the football field and into homes around the world.
The Cast
Nicolas Cage stars as John Madden, while Christian Bale plays Al Davis.
The cast also features John Mulaney as Trip Hawkins, Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden, and Sienna Miller as Carol Davis.
Additional cast members include Shane Gillis, Sergio Duque, David Lengel, and Shawn Alexander Thompson.
David O. Russell Directs
MADDEN is directed and co-written by David O. Russell, with Cambron Clark also credited as a writer.
The film combines drama and history to tell the story of Madden’s rise from football coach to broadcaster and, eventually, the namesake of one of the most recognizable sports video game franchises.
Release Details
Title: MADDEN
Release Date: November 18, 2026 (US)
Director: David O. Russell
Writers: David O. Russell, Cambron Clark
Starring: Nicolas Cage as John Madden, Christian Bale as Al Davis, John Mulaney as Trip Hawkins, Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden, Sienna Miller as Carol Davis
Additional Cast: Shane Gillis, Sergio Duque, David Lengel, Shawn Alexander Thompson
Genres: Drama, History
Rating: R
MADDEN looks beyond the football field to explore the people and events behind John Madden’s remarkable career.
With Nicolas Cage taking on the title role and Christian Bale portraying Al Davis, the film brings together two major stars to tell the story of the relationship that helped shape Madden’s legacy in football, broadcasting, and video games.
MADDEN is scheduled for release in the US on November 18, 2026.
