One of the biggest topics in 2020 has been Joe Exotic, the real life focus of Netflix’s massive hit docuseries titled Tiger King. In an effort to benefit from this newfound hype, many Tiger King-related projects have been getting greenlit. But none are perhaps as promising as this latest eight-episode series being produced by Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios. Reason being? Actor Nicolas Cage has been cast as the titular Tiger King!
According to Variety, the series will follow Nicolas Cage’s Joe Schreibvogel as he gradually becomes Joe Exotic, Tiger King. The series will also be using the Texas Monthly article “Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild,” by Leif Reigstad as a basis.
Here’s how the series is being described:
“The story centers around Joe Schreibvogel, a.k.a Joe Exotic, an eccentric, exotic zookeeper in Oklahoma who fights to keep his park even at the risk of losing his sanity. The series will live in the lion’s den with Joe, explore how he became Joe Exotic, and how he lost himself to a character of his own creation.”
What’s fascinating is that not only is Nicolas Cage playing the fictional interpretation of Joe Exotic in this Tiger King series, but this will actually be his first role on television. What a way to break into the medium! Nicolas Cage is no doubt one of the best possible choices they could’ve picked for the role, if not the very best.
Dan Lagana is attached to the series in multiple positions as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. Paul Young is executive producing via Make Good Content. Brian Grazer and Samie Kim Falvey will executive produce for Imagine Television Studios. Nicolas Cage will be executive producing via Saturn Films. Scott Brown and Megan Creydt will executive produce for Texas Monthly. Lastly, James Seidman and Natalie Berkus will be supervising the project for Imagine Television Studios.