Nicolas Cage has been cast as Joe Exotic, the subject of Netflix’s docuseries “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” for the upcoming eight-episode scripted series adaptation of the story currently in the works at CBS Television Studios and Imagine Television.
Titled “Joe Exotic,” the series recounts how Joe Schreibvogel built his private zoo in Oklahoma and his fight to keep it, 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 along with detailing his feuds with Jeff Lowe and Carole Baskin.
“American Vandal” showrunner Dan Lagana and Paul Young optioned the Texas Monthly article on the story mid-last year and Cage has been in talks to play the lead role since April. Lagane will serve as writer and showrunner and executive produce with Cage, Brian Grazer, Samie Kim Falvey, Scott Brown and Megan Creydt.
The project is separate to another one in the works at Universal Content Productions which has SNL alum Kate McKinnon set to executive produce and play Baskin. That one is based on Wondery’s Joe Exotic podcast and has been in the works since November. No-one has been cast as Joe as yet, though fan casting has suggested Orlando Bloom for the role.
“Tiger King” premiered in March on Netflix and has been a breakout hit for the streamer.
Source: The Live Feed
