The “world wide leader in sports” is headed to the big screen. 20th Century Fox is close to closing a deal for the film rights to James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales book based on ESPN’s history, “Those Guys Have All The Fun.”
The film is set to be produced by Michael De Luca, Dana Brunetti and Julie Yorn. De Luca and Brunetti recently had a hit film with “The Social Network” which chronicled the creation (and subsequent drama) of Facebook and it’s founders.
I have to start thinking about who I’d like to see in what roles. If you missed the book synopsis, check out Amazon’s:
ESPN began as an outrageous gamble with a lineup that included Australian Rules Football, rodeo, and a rinky-dinky clip show called Sports Center. Today the empire stretches far beyond television into radio, magazines, mobile phones,the internet, video games and more, while ESPN’s personalities have become global superstars to rival the sports icons they cover. Chris Berman, Robin Roberts, Keith Olbermann, Hannah Storm, Bill Simmons, Tony Kornheiser, Stuart Scott, Erin Andrews, Mike Ditka, Bob Knight, and scores of others speak openly about the games, shows, scandals, gambling addictions, bitter rivalries, and sudden suspensions that make up the network’s soaring and stormy history. The result is a wild, smart, effervescent story of triumph, genius, ego, and the rise of an empire unlike any television had ever seen.
I guess I should read the book before I jump into casting. I’ll add it to my reading list. Let me know if you’ve read it.
Curtsy to Deadline
