Amazon MGM's Madden Movie Casts John Mulaney as Trip Hawkins, Highlights Origins of Madden NFL Series

Amazon MGM Studios' highly anticipated biopic about NFL legend John Madden will shine a new light on the creation of the iconic Madden NFL video game franchise, with a stellar cast and acclaimed director at the helm.

The film, directed by David O.

Russell, features Nicolas Cage taking on the role of John Madden—the celebrated American football coach and commentator whose name became synonymous with one of the best-selling sports video game series of all time.

Christian Bale joins the cast as Al Davis, the legendary owner of the Oakland Raiders.

Madden enjoyed an extraordinary tenure as the Raiders' head coach from 1969 to 1978, amassing a remarkable 103-game win record, a benchmark that remains unbeaten today.

The movie plans to explore this pivotal era in Madden's sporting career, as well as his groundbreaking collaboration with Electronic Arts (EA), which sparked the birth of the Madden NFL franchise. A significant casting highlight comes with stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live writer John Mulaney set to portray Trip Hawkins, the pioneering founder of Electronic Arts.

Hawkins' partnership with Madden led to the development of "John Madden Football," later rebranded as Madden NFL.

Since its debut, the franchise has become one of the most recognizable names in interactive entertainment, with cumulative global sales surpassing 130 million units as of 2018.

Madden NFL games are featured on platforms ranging from the original consoles to contemporary hardware such as the Nintendo Switch and digital storefronts like the Nintendo eShop, underscoring the series' enduring influence in the video game world. According to verified statements from Amazon MGM Studios, "The film follows Madden’s remarkable journey—from his Super Bowl-winning partnership with Al Davis and the Raiders, to creating Madden NFL, and becoming one of the most iconic voices in football history." Additional cast members include Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden and Sienna Miller as Carol Davis.

Production officially commenced in April 2024, marking a new chapter in the portrayal of influential video game and sports personalities in film. Development on the project began in 2023, originally with Will Ferrell briefly attached to play Madden.

After his departure, other prominent names such as Hugh Jackman and Tom Hanks were considered for key roles.

The film aims to authentically tell Madden’s multifaceted story, both as a pioneering coach and as a transformative figure in sports gaming. John Madden passed away at his home in California on December 28, 2021, at the age of 85.

His legacy lives on not just in the world of football, but in the billion-dollar Madden NFL video game franchise that continues to engage players worldwide across platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

MGM EA Amazon Madden NFL Amazon MGM Studios John Madden Electronic Arts Trip Hawkins John Mulaney David O. Russell Nicolas Cage Christian Bale Al Davis