Will Ferrell is set to star as NFL legend John Madden in an upcoming movie based on the player, coach, and commentator by director David O. Russell.
What will the John Madden film be about?
According to a recent report from Deadline, Ferrell will star in the film, which comes from the five-time Oscar-nominated director. The movie, titled Madden, will be for Amazon/MGM, with Russell having been working on rewriting Cambron Clark’s script for some time before the writer’s strike shut down work on various Hollywood projects.
Madden will be produced by Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jonathan Shukat, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch, the latter of whom is a co-owner of the NFL’s New York Giants. Deadline reports that the NFL is expected to “embrace” the film as well, although it’s unclear exactly what their promotion of the film will include.
“A Prime Video Sports Original, Madden tells the story of one of the larger-than-life personalities to grace an NFL sideline. All Madden ever wanted was to be a head coach and he was one of the best ever,” reads the logline for the film. “After winning the Super Bowl, the stress of the job began to destroy him. It forced him away from his dream job, and the film focuses on his friendship with Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, and how Madden found a second act that made him far more famous. ”
Ferrell most recently starred in 2022’s Christmas musical comedy Spirited alongside Ryan Reynolds. Up next, he’s set to star in a voice role in 2023’s comedy film Strays, as well as appear as a Mattel CEO in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.