Joel Kinnaman will executive produce and star as NFL player Jerry Smith in a Fandomodo Films feature about the close friendship between Smith and his longtime Washington Redskins teammate Brig Owens, Variety has learned exclusively.
The film is set at the height of the civil rights movement between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, during a time of societal upheaval. Smith was secretly gay — a fact he kept hidden until his death from AIDS in 1986 — and Owens faced constant challenges and bigotry as a Black man while attending law school. Through it all, the men formed a close bond to always be there for each other regardless of differences or obstacles.
“Jerry Smith was a star on the field, but was never able to find fulfillment in his personal life,” Kinnaman said. “He had Brig to help him through his struggle, but to this day so many young people don...
The film is set at the height of the civil rights movement between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, during a time of societal upheaval. Smith was secretly gay — a fact he kept hidden until his death from AIDS in 1986 — and Owens faced constant challenges and bigotry as a Black man while attending law school. Through it all, the men formed a close bond to always be there for each other regardless of differences or obstacles.
“Jerry Smith was a star on the field, but was never able to find fulfillment in his personal life,” Kinnaman said. “He had Brig to help him through his struggle, but to this day so many young people don...
- 10/27/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Similar News
“He couldn’t have given a more perfect answer” James Gunn’s Comment on a Potential Justice League Unlimited Revival is What Every Dcau Fan Needs to Hear Right Now
- 4/27/2024
- by Priya Sharma
- FandomWire
4 Months After Dceu Ended, Here's What Zack Snyder Hopes to See in James Gunn's DC Universe
- 4/26/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
The Biggest Box Office Hits And Surprises Of 2024 So Far
- 4/26/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Kevin Spacey Doc Series Picked Up By Max In U.S. As First Trailer Revealed
- 4/26/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Elisabeth Moss Says “‘Top Of The Lake’ Has More To Say” & Wants To Reunite With Jane Campion For Season 3
- 4/25/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Hollywood Contraction Hits Star TV Packages: “It’s A Head-Scratcher”
- 4/24/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
“If this is true, great for them”: Tom Holland and Zendaya’s Reported Future Plans Could Finally Break the Spider-Man Curse
- 4/26/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Everything We Know So Far About ‘Daredevil: Born Again’: Plot, Cast, and Release Date
- 4/25/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
‘Daredevil: Born Again’: Plot, Cast, Release Date & Everything We Know So Far
- 4/25/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
‘Kraven the Hunter’ Moves to December Release as Sony Pushes ‘Karate Kid’ to May 2025
- 4/27/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety - Film News
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ Prequel ‘Apartment 7A’ Starring Julia Garner to Premiere on Paramount+ This Fall
- 4/26/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Makes $1.9 Million in Previews
- 4/26/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - Film News
Colin Jost to Roast President Joe Biden and More Politicians at the White House Correspondents Dinner
- 4/27/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Real-Life ‘Baby Reindeer’ Stalker Speaks Out Following Netflix Show Success
- 4/27/2024
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Marla Adams, Longtime ‘The Young and the Restless’ Actor, Dies at 85
- 4/26/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - TV News
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ Prequel ‘Apartment 7A’ Starring Julia Garner to Premiere on Paramount+ This Fall
- 4/26/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
‘One Tree Hill’ Star Sophia Bush Confirms Relationship With Ashlyn Harris: “My Sexuality Exists on a Spectrum”
- 4/26/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jensen Ackles Joins Justin Hartley in ‘Tracker’ at CBS
- 4/25/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Anne Hathaway Says ‘The Princess Diaries 3’ Development ‘Is in a Good Place,’ but ‘There’s Nothing to Announce Yet’
- 4/25/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
Bob Bakish Expected to Resign as Paramount CEO Amid Skydance Merger Talks
- 4/27/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The ‘Hacks’ Showrunners Think Comedy Is ‘Not Being Upheld as the Necessary, Important Thing That It Is’
- 4/27/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Sony Delays New ‘Karate Kid’ Movie to 2025 to Accommodate Final Season of ‘Cobra Kai’
- 4/27/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Alexander Payne to Direct His First Doc About Legendary Film Historian Jeanine Basinger, His ‘Favorite Teacher I Never Had’
- 4/27/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Carrie Coon Teases Season 3 of ‘The White Lotus’: Mike White Is ‘Playing with Some Really Interesting Dynamics’
- 4/27/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
‘Kraven the Hunter’ Moves to December Release as Sony Pushes ‘Karate Kid’ to May 2025
- 4/27/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety - Film News
IATSE Contract Talks Shift to Toughest Issues: Wages, AI and Residuals
- 4/26/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety - TV News
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ Prequel ‘Apartment 7A’ Starring Julia Garner to Premiere on Paramount+ This Fall
- 4/26/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Makes $1.9 Million in Previews
- 4/26/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - Film News
Anne Hathaway Says ‘The Princess Diaries 3’ Development ‘Is in a Good Place,’ but ‘There’s Nothing to Announce Yet’
- 4/25/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
IATSE Contract Talks Shift to Toughest Issues: Wages, AI and Residuals
- 4/26/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety - TV News
‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ Canceled After Three Seasons at CBS
- 4/26/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Jensen Ackles Joins Justin Hartley in ‘Tracker’ at CBS
- 4/25/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Colin Jost to Roast President Joe Biden and More Politicians at the White House Correspondents Dinner
- 4/27/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Fire Country: Did Luke’s Bombshell Blow Up [Spoiler]’s Future? Michael Trucco Teases What’s Ahead
- 4/27/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com