Nicolas Cage won’t be playing Joe Exotic, as Amazon shelves Tiger King series

Virgin Radio

14 Jul 2021, 10:20

If you were looking forward to seeing Nicolas Cage portraying controversial zookeeper Joe Exotic (and let’s face it, who wouldn't want to see that performance?), then prepare to be disappointed, as the actor has announced that it’s not happening. 

The Tiger King project was reportedly picked up by Amazon last year, and Cage seemed perfectly cast to play the eccentric lead role. However in an interview with Variety, the actor said that the whole project just seemed to have gone off the boil a little bit. 

“We should clear the record,” Cage said. “I read two excellent scripts, which I did think were excellent, but I think Amazon ultimately felt that it was material that had become past tense because it took so long for it to come together.”

Whilst there has been no official word from Amazon regarding its plans for the Tiger King project, Cage said, “They felt at one point that it was lightning in a bottle, but that point has since faded into the distance and it’s no longer relevant.”

If you really need some Tiger King-related drama in your life though, then don’t despair because, while we sadly won’t get to see Cage’s interpretation of Joe Exotic, a separate Tiger King-themed series looks set to go ahead. 

Based on the popular podcast Joe Exotic: Tiger King, the show, which has the working title Joe Exotic, will star Kate McKinnon as the iconic Carole Baskin.

Meanwhile, if you need more Nicolas Cage in your life (and don’t we all?), then you can catch him in the upcoming indie movie Pig, due for release in August, for which he has gained rave reviews. The actor also will be playing himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. The film, which is due to land next year, portrays Cage as a cash-strapped actor who makes a paid appearance at a billionaire fan’s birthday bash as part of a CIA sting operation.