Amazon Prime acquires Nicolas Cage’s developing Joe Exotic series

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Back in May, it was announced that the man, the myth, Nicolas Cage, will play Joe Exotic, the surreal subject of the Netflix docuseries TIGER KING, for a new 8-episode scripted series. At first, everyone thought this was an April Fool's prank that was crazy late to the game, but it's all true! Now, Amazon Prime Video has announced that they're developing Cage's Tiger King project, which hails from CBS TV Studios, Brian Grazer, American Vandal showrunner Dan Lagana, and Paul Young.

The story, written by Lagana, prowls around Joe Shreibvogel (Cage), 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. (via Deadline)

The project that will undoubtedly play host to "the rage of the Cage" is based on the Texas Monthly article “Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild,” by Leif Reigstad. Lagana and Young had optioned the story back in June of 2019 and now it's about to become a playground for Nicolas Cage's unique brand of theatrics.

For those of you who've yet to enter the tiger cage that is Netflix's TIGER KING, the documentary details the events leading up to platinum blonde mullet-sporting tiger breeder Joe Exotic's conviction for murder-for-hire against Big Cat Rescue non-profit founder and quintessential crazy cat lady Carole Baskin. Exotic is currently serving out a 22-year jail sentence for taking part in a murder-for-hire plot against Baskin. All of that could soon change though, as Exotic has penned a letter to Donald Trump asking to be pardoned. How high of a priority this is on Trump's to-do list remains uncertain, especially with an election fast approaching.

We'll be sure to bring you more details as Cage's Joe Exotic project continues to show its stripes.