Total Pro Sports
Production on the upcoming Madden biopic hit a rough patch last Friday when a supporting actor walked off set just two weeks into filming. The actor reportedly quit after objecting to the use of the N-word during a rehearsal and expressing discomfort over a locker room scene involving nudity.
Five cast and crew members told TMZ the tension reached a boiling point during an impromptu monologue rehearsal with director David O. Russell. According to those on set, Russell allegedly used the N-word during the session, which upset the actor and others nearby. Several people walked off before lunch, and production shut down for the rest of the day.
Sources close to Amazon Studios see it differently. They claim the actor himself proposed including the N-word during a private creative exchange with Russell. Although the term sparked discussion, the studio insists it never made it into the scene.
One source noted, “David did not say the word while shooting,” but wouldn’t comment on what triggered the actor’s exit.
Tensions were already building the day before the confrontation. The same actor had pushed back on appearing nude in a scene set in a locker room. Several crew members described Russell’s response to the refusal as “unprofessional,” while studio insiders argued the situation was handled respectfully. They said an intimacy coordinator worked with the actor to modify the scene, offering alternatives. In the end, Russell reportedly told the actor he could skip the shot entirely.
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 maintains that all cast members had prior notice about nudity requirements. “Nothing was sprung on anyone,” one insider emphasized. The studio also confirmed the door remains open for the actor’s return, and conversations are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, the production itself has been anything but smooth. One person working on the film described the set as a “mess,” citing rising friction between cast and crew. Method acting by leads Nicolas Cage, who plays NFL legend John Madden, and Christian Bale, portraying Raiders owner Al Davis, has reportedly added intensity behind the scenes. While the studio praised both actors for their full commitment, insiders insisted neither has caused any issues off-camera.
As the drama unfolds behind the lens, Madden continues its bumpy road through production, one that’s proving just as intense as the story it aims to tell.
