In case you haven’t heard, Netflix’s Tiger King has been a big success. The documentary series arrived on the streaming platform in March, and has since inspired parodies, petitions, and a couple of spin-offs. Now, there’s one more in the works, and it’s set to star Nicolas Cage as problematic style icon Joe Exotic.
According to Variety, the actor will play the zoo owner and convicted felon in an upcoming eight-episode series. Produced by Imagine Television Studios and CBS, the show is based on a June 2019 Texas Monthly article titled, “Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild”. CBS reportedly optioned the article the month it came out.
The series will centre on Joe Schreibvogel (AKA Joe Exotic) – who was also the subject of Netflix’s Tiger King – the eccentric Oklahoma zoo owner who went from running for president to serving time in prison after shooting five tigers and hiring a hitman to kill his nemesis, Carole Baskin.
Dan Lagana will serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. Paul Young, Brian Grazer, Samie Kim Falvey, Scott Brown, Megan Creydt, and Cage himself will also executive produce. The role marks Cage’s first TV project.
This isn’t the only TV adaptation of Joe Exotic’s story, with the first scripted series announced late last year. Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon will executive produce and star as Carole Baskin in a show based on the Wondery podcast, Joe Exotic: Tiger King. Dazed previously listed who should play who in the series – our dream scenario would see Iggy Pop as the infamous Exotic, naturally.
In reality, Exotic continues to serve his 22-year prison sentence. Last month, it was reported that he was under quarantine after a coronavirus outbreak in the facility. The ex-zoo owner is also hoping to get his own radio show from behind bars.
