Nicolas Cage to Star in New 'Tiger King' Series
by EG
Eventually, we'll need an entire streaming platform just to handle all the different versions of the Tiger King story. The latest Tiger King project to be announced is a fictionalized series starring Nicolas Cage as Joe Exotic. This version joins the original Netflix series, at least one other true-crime doc, and several other fictionalized series and movies that are in various stages of development. How much Tiger King is too much Tiger King? Read on and decide for yourself.
Nicolas Cage is headed to television — as Joe Exotic, the subject of Netflix's breakout docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.
Cage will play Joe in an eight-episode scripted series from CBS Television Studios and Imagine Television. It is based on a Texas Monthly story published in 2019.
American Vandal showrunner Dan Lagana, who has an overall deal at CBS TV Studios, and Paul Young optioned the article in June 2019, well before Tiger King became a word-of-mouth phenomenon. Cage had been in talks to play the lead role since April. CBS TV Studios and Imagine are taking the show out to potential buyers soon.
Nicolas Cage is headed to television — playing #JoeExotic, the subject of Netflix's breakout docuseries #TigerKing https://t.co/87VZFXSwEg
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 4, 2020
The Texas Monthly story by Leif Reigstad recounts how Joe Schreibvogel built his private zoo in Oklahoma and details his feuds with Jeff Lowe and Carole Baskin, both of whom are prominently featured in Tiger King. The scripted project, currently titled Joe Exotic, will center on Joe as he fights to keep his animal park even at the risk of losing his sanity. It will explore how Joe became Joe Exotic and how he lost himself to a character of his own creation.
Did someone say Nicolas Cage was starring as Joe Exotic in a #TigerKing series??? 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/r86UCwSWXD
— BROTHER (@BrotherHQ) May 4, 2020
Lagana will serve as writer and showrunner and executive produce with Young of Make Good Content, Imagine's Brian Grazer and Samie Kim Falvey, Cage (via his Saturn Films), and Scott Brown and Megan Creydt of Texas Monthly. Imagine's James Seidman and Natalie Berkus are overseeing the project.
The Cage-led series is the second scripted project based on Joe Exotic in the works. Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon is set to executive produce and play Baskin in a show from Universal Content Productions based on Wondery's Joe Exotic podcast. That project has been in the works since November.
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
How many more Tiger King movies would you like to see? Let us know in the comments below.