From Legendary Picture's official press release:
LEGENDARY PICTURES ANNOUNCES TWO MAJOR JACKIE ROBINSON MOVIE CASTINGS: CHADWICK BOSEMAN IS JACKIE ROBINSON AND HARRISON FORD IS BRANCH RICKEY BOSEMAN TO STAR AS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ICON JACKIE ROBINSON, FORD TO PORTAY RENOWNED BASEBALL EXECUTIVE BRANCH RICKEY
Burbank, CA – December 9, 2011 – Legendary Pictures announced today that it has cast Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford to star in the company’s film based upon history’s most celebrated baseball figure, Jackie Robinson.
Boseman will depict the iconic baseball star, paying tribute to the legacy and impact Robinson made when he became the first African American Major League Baseball player.
Ford will star as Branch Rickey, the innovative Major League Baseball executive who is best known for breaking MLB’s color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson to a minor league contract in 1945. Two years later, at the start of the 1947 major league baseball season, Robinson was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers major league baseball team with the help of Rickey. Rickey was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967.
Chadwick Boseman is best known for his performance in Universal Pictures’ THE EXPRESS. Boseman also just completed a lead in the independent feature KILL HOLE. On television he was a regular on the NBC series Persons Unknown. He is represented by Michael Greene at Greene & Associates, and Melanie Cook of Ziffren Brittenham.
Ford most recently starred in COWBOYS & ALIENS and is best known for starring in the INDIANA JONES and STAR WARS franchises as well as AIR FORCE ONE and THE FUGITIVE. Ford was a Best Actor Oscar® nominee for his role in the 1985 feature film WITNESS. Ford is represented by Jim Berkus at United Talent Agency and Skip Brittenham of Ziffren Brittenham.
Brian Helgeland (LA CONFIDENTIAL / MYSTIC RIVER) will write and direct, with Legendary’s Chairman and CEO, Thomas Tull, producing, and Legendary’s Chief Creative Officer and President, Jon Jashni, serving as executive producer. Dick Cook, former Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, will also serve as an executive producer. Legendary worked early on in development with Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson, to ensure the movie adaptation of the famed player’s story is authentic.Did the studio make the right choices? I think Boseman looks a lot like Jackie and Ford looks a bit like Branch Rickey. I think he's a better choice than Robert Redford.
"42" is scheduled to hit theaters in 2013.
Director-wise I think it's in good hands. Boseman has a classic look that could be awesome for this role. And Ford is Redford's junior by only 8 years, but he looks much younger. I think this could work. Looking forward to seeing Ebbets Field in cgi!
ReplyDeleteDutch - Agreed. Can't wait to see 1947 Brooklyn!
ReplyDeleteFianlly, a Dodger movie!
ReplyDeleteIt's about time, huh?
ReplyDeleteI have yet to hear about this! very excited. It's easy to ruin a movie about your personal hero. Luckily 4192:The Crowning of The Hit King starred it's own subject. Is this movie going straight to DVD or is is going to be in theaters in selected cities?
ReplyDelete...Just had a residual thought! I always thought Hank Aaron had a rough time when he was breaking Ruth's HR record...Getting death threats and what not...that would be an epic movie.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it is getting a theatrical release. No hard date has been announced.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, a Hank Aaron movie would be a great idea. Maybe Denzel Washington as Hank Aaron?