Nicolas Cage Will Play Joe Exotic in "Tiger King" Scripted Series

It was the obvious choice.

When we heard that a dramatised Tiger King television series had been in the works since last November, we sought an answer to one very important question: Who would play Joe Exotic? Surely, only Joe himself could fulfil such an emotionally complex role.

That series is being developed by Kate McKinnon from Saturday Night Live, and she's set to star as cool cat Carole Baskin. There's still no word as to who will portray Joe. Plus, as Variety reports, they're still seeking a writer for the miniseries.

However, it turns out there's now another project based on the exotic cat wrangler, and this one has already cast an actor to play Joe.

Earlier today, it was announced that none other than Nicolas Cage will step into the role for a brand new scripted series.

We're not sure if Joe will be entirely pleased about it, considering he'd already said he'd like to see Brad Pitt or David Spade play him. But it looks like he has no choice but to accept it.

When you think about it, Cage is probably the perfect choice, despite it being his first regular TV project. He probably didn't even have to audition for the role.

The eight-episode series is being produced by Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studies, and will soon be shopped around to networks and streaming platforms. Dan Lagana (American Vandal) will serve as writer, showrunner and executive producer, with Paul Young also executive producing.

It'll be based on the Texas Monthly article "Joe Exotic: A Dark Journey Into the World of a Man Gone Wild," by Leif Reigstad.

According to Variety, the story focuses on Joe Schreibvogel, a.k.a Joe Exotic, who fights to keep his park at the risk of losing his own sanity. It'll basically explore how Joe Exotic came to be, and boy we can't wait to see that.

As long as we witness Cage perform "I Saw a Tiger", everything should be just fine.