Christian Bale has made a career out of disappearing into roles, but his latest transformation may be one of his most dramatic yet. The Oscar-winning actor was recently spotted on the Atlanta set of "Madden," a biopic about legendary NFL coach and commentator John Madden. He's nearly unrecognizable as late Raiders owner Al Davis.
People reported that photos from the set show Bale, 51, in full character, wearing a receding hairline wig, bleached eyebrows, leather jacket, black slacks and several championship rings. The era-specific look is a bold and uncanny match for the larger-than-life NFL figure he's portraying.
The biopic, directed by David O. Russell, reunites Bale with the filmmaker behind "The Fighter" and "American Hustle." The story follows Madden's rise from Super Bowl-winning coach to beloved broadcaster and namesake of the blockbuster football video game franchise. Nicolas Cage stars as Madden, sporting his own transformation with a wavy blond wig and bright blue tracksuit.
Bale's role as Davis is central to the story. Davis was the principal owner of the Raiders from 1972 until his death in 2011 and helped shape the team's famously aggressive identity. He and Madden worked together during the team's most successful stretch, including their victory in Super Bowl XI in 1977.
Your first-look at Nicolas Cage as John Madden and Christian Bale as Al Davis on set of the upcoming film, Madden. Production is currently underway.
The film follows Madden's remarkable journey-from his Super Bowl-winning partnership with Al Davis and the Raiders, to creating… pic.twitter.com/jmmF4uy8LR
— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) May 14, 2025
Amazon MGM Studios describes the film as a tribute to Madden's "remarkable journey," chronicling his coaching legacy, cultural influence and longtime partnership with Davis. Also joining the cast are John Mulaney as Trip Hawkins, Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden and Sienna Miller as Carol Davis.
Madden coached the Raiders from 1969 to 1978 and went on to become one of the most recognizable voices in football. He won 16 Sports Emmy Awards, helped launch the Madden NFL video game series and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He died in 2021 at age 85.
Amazon MGM Studios has not announced a release date for "Madden."