Madden teaser breakdown: Everything to know about Nicolas Cage, Christian Bale NFL movie coming Thanksgiving 2026

The upcoming biopic Madden is based on the life of the legendary John Madden, directed by David O. Russell, and stars Nicolas Cage as NFL Hall of Famer John Madden, along with Christian Bale as Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis.

Produced by Amazon MGM Studios, the film is scheduled for release on Prime Video during the Thanksgiving 2026 holiday season. It traces Madden's career from coaching the Raiders to a Super Bowl win in 1976, his time as a broadcaster and the creation of the iconic Madden NFL video game series. 

The supporting cast includes John Mulaney as Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins and Kathryn Hahn as Madden's wife, Virginia. 

Sienna Miller plays Al Davis' wife Carol, Joel Murray as broadcaster Pat Summerall and Shane Gillis in an undisclosed role. 

The project is based on an earlier script by Cambron Clark and rewritten by Russell. It also highlights Madden's partnership with Davis and his enduring impact on the football and gaming cultures. 

Madden: Teaser breakdown and what has been revealed so far

Amazon MGM Studios dropped the first teaser trailer for Madden on Christmas night 2025. It aired during Prime Video's broadcast of the NFL game. The 45-second clip opens with classic 1970s footage of Raiders games mixed with new shots. 

Nicolas Cage as John Madden stands on the sideline in a Raiders coat. He is seen scribbling game plans on a glass slate and giving interesting commentary. Christian Bale appears as Al Davis in a silver-and-black suit with slicked-back white hair and vintage glasses. 

A voiceover from Cage recites lines about winning and innovation. Classic rock music plays underneath. The teaser ends with Cage delivering Madden's famous "Boom!" catchphrase.

Known plot details focus on key moments in John Madden's life. He coached the Raiders from 1969 to 1978. His team won Super Bowl XI in 1977 after a 13-1 regular season. Health issues led to his retirement at age 42. The story examines his complex bond with Al Davis. 

They clashed often but shared a vision for bold football. After coaching, Madden joined CBS as a colour commentator. He worked booths with Pat Summerall for years. His telestrator breakdowns made him a household name. 

In the 1980s, he partnered with Trip Hawkins at Electronic Arts. Madden insisted on realistic simulation and player names. This helped create the blockbuster franchise still popular today. The film frames these events as an origin story for the game series. 

David O. Russell calls it a celebration of Madden's joy and genius in 1970s football culture. No full trailer exists yet. The teaser suggests a mix of drama and light humour.

What to expect from Madden: Cast performances and production insights

Fans can expect standout acting from the two leads. Nicolas Cage captures Madden's booming voice and enthusiastic energy. He wears prosthetic features to match Madden's build and facial traits. 

Christian Bale fully transforms into Al Davis with an altered posture, a thin frame and a signature style. Bale gained and lost weight again for the role. The supporting cast brings depth. John Mulaney plays a tech visionary.

Trip Hawkins in later game-development scenes. Kathryn Hahn adds warmth as Virginia Madden. Comedians like Shane Gillis and Joel Murray handle broadcast booth moments for authentic humour.

This movie will prioritise relationships and personal reinvention over game footage. It avoids standard sports clichés. Cinematographer Robert Richardson shot the film. He worked on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and brings rich 1970s visuals.

Production finished in Atlanta during early 2025. Reports noted typical intense rehearsals from Russell but no major delays.

Amazon positions Madden as a major streaming event. The Thanksgiving 2026 release ties into the NFL season's peak viewership. Prime Video plans heavy promotion during football broadcasts. 

Where to watch Madden

Madden will stream exclusively on Prime Video for Amazon Prime subscribers starting Thanksgiving 2026.

Stay tuned for more such updates!