Christian Bale vanished completely into the role of an NFL owner in a new first-look image of the upcoming movie Madden.
The upcoming picture is a biopic of NFL coach John Madden, played by Nicolas Cage, who himself was barely recognizable under his prosthetics, fat suit and wig.
But it was Bale who underwent the most startling transformation to play Al Davis, who was principal owner of the Oakland Raiders while Madden was head coach.
His matinee idol looks and English accent were nowhere to be detected as he disappeared under the makeup that morphed him into a dead ringer for Davis.
Cage, 61, and Bale, 51, are starring amid a glittering cast that includes Sienna Miller, Kathryn Hahn and comedians Shane Gillis and John Mulaney.
David O Russell, the filmmaker behind such movies as Flirting with Disaster, The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, is directing the movie.
Christian Bale (left) vanished completely into the role of NFL owner Al Davis in a new first-look image of the upcoming movie Madden starring Nicolas Cage (right)
Bale is pictured at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square for the European premiere of his previous project with David O Russell, the 2022 mystery comedy Amsterdam
The new still of Bale and Cage in character dropped on Boxing Day along with a teaser trailer for the film, which is due out next Thanksgiving.
In the sneak peek, Bale as Al Davis says: ‘There’s only one John Madden. They didn’t make another one. He is one of a kind. Football wouldn’t be football without him.’
Cage is also seen in character as Madden, acting out the chaotic thought process of the legendary football coach-turned-commentator.
While delivering commentary apparently to a TV camera, Madden is glimpsed frantically scribbling gibberish on a paper set up on an easel.
‘I have no idea where we are, who we are, where we’re coming from or who we’re throwing to,’ he says in a state of obvious exasperation.
Sportscaster Pat Summerall, played by Joel Murray, manages to retain his cool in reaction to Madden’s outburst, saying as calmly as possible: ‘Very interesting.’
Miller is featuring in the role of Al Davis’ wife Carol, who part-owned the Raiders with her husband and inherited his stake when he died in 2011.
Meanwhile Hahn plays John Madden’s wife Virginia, amid a cast that includes Mulaney as business mogul Trip Hawkins.
The real Al Davis is pictured in 2007 – four years before his death – announcing the hiring of Lane Kilfin as the Oakland Raiders’ head coach, a position previously held by Maddon
The upcoming picture is a biopic of NFL coach John Madden, played by Nicolas Cage, who himself was barely recognizable under his prosthetics, fat suit and wig
But it was Bale who underwent the most startling transformation to play Al Davis, who was the principal owner of the Oakland Raiders while Madden was coaching them
Sienna Miller is featuring in the role of Al Davis’ wife Carol, who part-owned the Raiders with her husband and inherited his stake when he died in 2011
Meanwhile Kathryn Hahn plays John Madden’s wife Virginia (pictured)
The cast also includes comedians John Mulaney (left) and Shane Gillis (right)
Bale has had a longtime working relationship with Russell, going back to his starring role in the filmmaker’s 2010 drama The Fighter starring Mark Wahlberg.
The picture featured Bale in the role of real-life pro boxer Dicky Eklund, which he managed to acquire after both Brad Pitt and Matt Damon were cast in the part but withdrew from the project because of their schedules.
Russell and Bale reunited for 2013 crime comedy American Hustle, an all-star affair including Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence.
Most recently they worked together on the 2022 comedy mystery Amsterdam, which Bale not only acted in but also helped produce.
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