The story of Joe Maldonado-Passage a.k.a Joe Exotic has captivated Netflix viewers all over the world through the docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.
And as we know with anything in entertainment, if it makes a good documentary, it’s going to make an even better and more dramatised TV series or film — played by some of the most famous actors in the world.
According to TV Line, Universal Content Production is already working on a limited series based on the lives of Exotic and his arch-nemesis Carole Baskin and will be starring Saturday Night Live’s, Kate McKinnon as the animal rights activist.
McKinnon is set to play Baskin in an adaptation which will centre on the epic feud between her and Exotic and will no doubt address the mysterious case of Baskin’s missing first husband Jack “Don” Lewis who was declared legally dead in 2002 — her involvement unclear.
But while the actor is ready to play Baskin, there was no word on who would play Exotic. Until now.
And according to Exotic himself — he has two unlikely stars in mind to play him.
“He would like Brad Pitt or David Spade to play him,” directors of the Netflix series, Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin told The Hollywood Reporter.
“He doesn’t refer to David Spade as David Spade — he refers to him as ‘Joe Dirt,’” Chaiklin added.
While nothing has been made official, a few days ago, there was also word on the Hollywood streets is that Australian actor Margot Robbie was being considered for the role.
Robert Moor, the host of the podcast Joe Exotic: Tiger King has confirmed that Sam Rockwell, Golden Globe winner for his role as Bob Fosse in Fosse/Verdon has been mentioned for the role of the eccentric zookeeper, but he actually wants Robbie to star.
“We’ve been talking a lot of names… Sam Rockwell was one of the names that came up a lot to play Joe Exotic,” he said on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show Radio Andy.
“My preferred casting — and this is off the wall — would be Margot Robbie. I think Margot Robbie should play Joe in a like a gender switch…”
“Just look at her eyes, that’s the thing, if you look at her eyes, she has these eyes that are just like Joe’s… I think she would do a great job with it.”
According to Moor, the deal for the series was signed last November, before the huge success of the series, so we can imagine that after the studios start back up again, production for the new show will get underway.