David O. Russell’s ‘Madden’ Heads to Prime Video Streaming on November 18, “Oscar-Qualifying Run” A Week Earlier

UPDATE: A rep tells me “Madden” is expected to receive an awards-qualifying theatrical release a week before hitting streaming, on November 11.

EARLIER: Wait, what? Amazon has decided to dump David O. Russell’s “Madden” straight to Prime Video on November 18. “Madden” was already branded as a “Prime Original,” which was a hint, and we basically just got it confirmed via press release.

I guess it was a red flag when we didn’t see it appear at any of the fall festivals.

Russell is coming off 2022’s “Amsterdam,” the most critically reviled film of his career. He has otherwise consistently delivered critically acclaimed fare over the course of his 30-year career, including films such as “Silver Linings Playbook,” “The Fighter,” “Three Kings,” “Flirting with Disaster,” and “American Hustle.”

Russell’s film tackles former NFL coach Madden’s exit from the league and his subsequent partnership with EA Sports to create the pioneering “Madden NFL” video game franchise. The film will explore the rivalry between Madden and Al Davis, in a race against time to develop the ultimate football video game.

The previously released teaser was amusing. Christian Bale, in full makeup, playing former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. Nicolas Cage hams it up as football icon John Madden. The rest of the ensemble includes John Mulaney, Kathryn Hahn, Shane Gillis, and Sienna Miller.

As is the case with many Russell productions, the “Madden” shoot has had its fair share of drama — Russell reportedly got into a full-blown shouting match with legendary cinematographer Robert Richardson (“Kill Bill,” “JFK”), and another report claimed a supporting actor walked off set after Russell used the N-word during an improvised monologue workshop, prompting multiple cast and crew members to protest and halt filming for the day.

Just another day at the office for Russell whose on-set behavior, throughout his career, has become the stuff of legend.

David Robert Mitchell’s ‘They Follow’ Wraps Filming

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George Lucas Admits He Walked Away From Three More ‘Star Wars' Movies

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Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Settlement Includes 30+ Theatrical Releases a Year — “The Opposite of Disney-Fox”

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‘Ray Gunn’ Photos: Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits Lead Brad Bird’s Animated Sci-Fi Noir

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Duncan Jones Says Netflix's Auteur Era Is Dead and “It's About to Get Worse”

The prime catalyst for Netflix's risk-free shift may have been new content chief Dan Lin, who said two years ago that the company would greenlight films "more about audience, and less about auteurs."

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

CONFIRMED: Sadie Soverall Exits Brady Corbet's ‘The Origin of the World' Mid-Shoot, Lily McInerny Steps In Lead Role

Sadie Soverall was just let go after briefly filming on Corbet's new film — no official reason given. She had the lead role. Corbet has replaced her, last minute, with Lily McInerny.

Ron Howard’s ‘Alone at Dawn’ Starring Adam Driver and Anne Hathaway Sets Christmas 2027 Release

This is the adaptation of the nonfiction book by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz. It wrapped production in February and has been in post-production ever since. The film test-screened a few months ago.

Jeremy Saulnier’s Next Film Retitled to ‘Slayground,’ Current Runtime is 2.5 Hours, Plot Details

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Jemima Kirke and Alexi Wasser to Star in Woody Allen's Next Film

A few months ago, Deadline reported that Woody Allen's next film, set in Madrid and carrying a $14M budget, will be "largely English-language" and feature a "high-profile cast."

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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