Last month, Netflix’s Tiger King documentary racked up the views while we were all newly stuck at home, and racked up the controversy and questions: Why was Joe Exotic treated so sympathetically? Why was Carol Baskin not? A follow-up episode was quickly put together by Netflix in the wake of the docuseries’ success and now, a scripted series is on the way – and it’s going to star a familiar name in the role.

In the most, “Well, of course” news of the day, THR is reporting that Nicolas Cage will be taking on the role of the bleached blonde, be-mulleted Tiger King himself, Joe Exotic. The eight-episode scripted series, a joint production between CBS Television Studios and Imagine Television, will be the first TV work of Cage’s life.

Interestingly, those thinking the scripted series is happening simply because of the success of the documentary are mistaken: Showrunner Dan Lagana (American Vandal) and partner Paul Young optioned a 2019 Texas Monthly story about Joe Exotic back in June of last year and have been working on it ever since. According to the description by THR, the role appears to be a Nic Cage role if ever there were one:

“The scripted project, currently titled Joe Exotic, will center on Joe as he fights to keep his animal park 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.”

For those of you thinking that even for Cage, this might be a little too lowbrow or small potatoes for him, allow me to share an anecdote: I live in Los Angeles, which means occasionally running into famous people while out doing normal, everyday things. Once, I was at brunch with a friend and we realized Nic Cage was sitting at the table right next to us with a few friends, no more than a foot away. At one point, he launched into an impassioned – and I mean, impassioned – defense of The Waterboy and how much he loves lowbrow humor. So, yes. This ie exactly, extremely, so completely chef’s-kiss up his alley.

You have to wonder if this won’t lead to a Joe Exotic movie at some point. There have already been some reports that Netflix is planning on one and I’m sure at least one traditional studio is kicking around the idea. If so, there certainly isn’t a shortage of actors either willing to take on the role or who fans have cast. Just yesterday, Kevin Bacon said he’d play Joe Exotic in a second. Other actors who have thrown their hat into the ring include Dax Shepard, Rob Lowe and Edward Norton, with Shepard and Norton getting into a playful fight about it on Twitter:

Still, plenty of fans also pulling for Danny McBride, Sam Rockwell and David Spade, who basically already played Joe Exotic twice before. I mean. Come on:

Even Joe Exotic said he should be played by David Spade.

In any case, it feels almost inevitable at this point that a Tiger King movie will be hitting the big screen at one point. It wouldn’t surprise me if we heard some tangible news about a movie adaptation within the next month. Maybe this time Carol Baskin will actually be portrayed in a more favorable light.