Occasionally, compelling sports movies are created that inspire and entertain theatergoers throughout the world.
The four movies below have not been made yet, only my personal wish list for future films to come.
Next to each athlete are the men and women I’d prefer be attached to the project, main actor, director and writer.
Let me know in the comments section which professional athlete you’d love to see made into movie.
Enjoy
1. Gordie Howe – Played by Ryan Gosling
Director – Bennett Miller
Writer – Paul Haggis
Brief Gordie Howe History (Mr. Hockey) – Considered one of the best Hockey players to ever play in the NHL. Born in Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada .
– Played from 1946 to 1980, 26 seasons. 6 seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The first 25 seasons were spent with the Detroit Red Wings.
– A 23-time NHL All-Star, he held many of the sport’s career scoring records until they were broken in the 1980s by Wayne Gretzky. He continues to hold NHL records for most games and seasons played.
Ryan Gosling – Canadian Actor, both Howe and Gosling are around the same height. Besides being able to fulfill the physical requirements, Ryan and Bennett Miller joining forces most certainly equates to a film that withstands the test of time.
Bennett Miller – A director of two sports movies already, Moneyball and Foxcatcher. A talented storyteller that clearly has a deep appreciation for athletes.
Paul Haggis – Another Canadian, born and raised in London, Ontario, Canada. A writer responsible for memorable scripts such as Crash, In the Valley of Elah, Million Dollar and Quantum of Solace to name a few.
2. Bo Jackson – Played by John Boyega
Director – Spike Lee
Writer- David Benioff
Bo Jackson Brief History:
– Born Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson November 30, 1962. A professional baseball and football player.
– Tragically a football injury on the L.A. Raiders in 1991 caused early retirement from the NFL, focusing all of his energy on baseball. He is the only athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both baseball and football.
– In the late 1980’s a series of advertisements by Nike referred to as “Bo Knows” catapulted his fame in the sports world. The promotional campaign featured a cross training athletic shoe. The ad ran from 89 – 90, starring Bo Jackson and musician Bo Diddly.
John Boyega – A prominent actor that showcases depth in his performances along with physical endurance, starring in action movies Star Wars and Pacific Rim.
Spike Lee – An experienced filmmaker who frequently displays deep passion for sports. Spike’s vision would undoubtedly reveal a side to Bo Jackson that no one thus far has witnessed.
David Benioff – The screenwriter behind Troy and 25th hour, David’s writing style would complement the drama and action scenes required for a Bo Jackson feature.
3. Joe Namath played by Jake Gyllenhaal
Director – Danny Boyle
Writer – Steven Zaillian
Brief Joe Namath history:
– Born Joseph William Namath, May 31, 1943. Referred to as “Broadway Joe”
– A former American football quarterback during the 1960’ and 70’s. An athlete as well as actor, appearing on The Brady Bunch TV series and The Waverly Wonders.
– His overall record is 68 wins, 71 losses, and four ties, 64–64–4 in 132 starts. Completing 1,886 passes for 27,663 yards, threw 173 touchdowns, and had 220 interceptions.
– One Super Bowl victory over the Baltimore Colts in January 1969.
– In 1985 he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jake Gyllenhaal – Physical transformations fill Jake’s filmography with movies like Jarhead, Nightcrawler, and Southpaw. I think the additional demand of bringing to a gregarious personality to the big screen would entice the seasoned actor.
Danny Boyle – Director of 127 hours and Steve Jobs, two non-fiction films that not only held the audience’s attention but portrayed a memorable realism. The Hollywood persona that Namath lived would unquestionably be unedited and factual with a director notorious for never holding back.
Steve Zaillian – The writer behind MoneyBall, Gangs of New York and Schindler’s List has plenty of experience crafting scripts from a specific decade. Joe Namath’s ability to outperform his competitors despite severe knee injuries plus a Playboy life style, would present a compelling challenge for the veteran screenwriter.
4. Mia Hamm – Played by Ashley Greene
Director – Kathryn Bigelow
Writer – Mark Boal
Brief Mia Hamm History:
– Born Mariel Margaret Hamm- Garciaparra, March 17, 1972. An American retired professional soccer player, two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and an overall well-recognized soccer icon.
– Played as a forward for the United States women’s national soccer team from 1987–2004.
– An elite college athlete for North Carolina Tar Heels women’s soccer team. Helping the team win four consecutive NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship titles.
Ashley Greene – An actress known for her roles in the Twilight series, she’s been quoted as describing herself as a self- proclaimed tomboy. A competitive taekwondo enthusiast, whose past accolades suggest her work ethic would satisfy the necessary endurance requirements to play an Olympic soccer player.
Kathryn Bigelow – The director behind popular war stories and crime dramas stemming from the early 80’s, Kathryn continues to develop movies that could be described as cerebral action films. Guiding a project that highlights a soccer all-star like Mia Hamm adds a sports feature to the filmography and one that potentially inspires millions of young athletes throughout the world.
Mark Boal – A writer whose resume includes iconic collaborations with director Kathryn Bigelow on movies like Zero Dark Thirty and Detroit. Mark’s journalist roots, I’d assume, would reveal a side of Mia’s life that only a few closely knitted friends were privy to.