Are you rushing, or are you passing?
After first working together alongsideChadwick Bosemanon the action-thriller21 Bridges,Stephan JamesandJ.K. Simmonsare reuniting for the college football movieNational Champions, which is getting its game face on at STXfilms.
In a change of pace for him,Ric Roman Waugh(Greenland) will direct from a script byAdam Mervis, who adapted his own play of the same name. That’s right, this sports drama is based on a play! That’s not really the STX model, but this play actually sounds pretty interesting.
National Championsexamines the big business of college sports, as the story follows a star quarterback (James) who ignites a player’s strike 72 hours before the biggest game of the year to fight for fair compensation, equality, and respect for the athletes who put their bodies and health on the line for their schools.
Basil Iwanyk(John Wick) andBrendon Boyeaof Thunder Road will produce alongsideGreg Economouof game1. Executive producers includeJonathan Fuhrmanof Thunder Road,Matthew HeldermanandLuke Taylorof Bondit Media Capital andChristian Mercuriof The Capstone Group, as well asMichael Smithand Mervis. Production is slated to start next month in New Orleans.
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“Our experience with Ric onGreenlandwas nothing short of extraordinary,” said STXfilms chairmanAdam Fogelson. “This is a film that taps into important issues and does it with compelling, authentic, and memorable characters. In the best tradition of sports dramas, they will leave audiences rooting for victory and perhaps considering the competitive nature of college sports and athletics in a different way.”
Simmons won an Oscar forWhiplashand currently voices Omni-Man on Amazon’s animated superhero seriesInvincible. He recently starred oppositeAndy Sambergin the comedyPalm Springs, and he’ll soon be seen alongsideChris Prattin Amazon’s sci-fi movieThe Tomorrow War.
James earned a Golden Globe nomination for his work oppositeJulia Robertsin the Amazon seriesHomecoming, and also received an Emmy nomination for his performance in the Quibi series#FreeRayshawn. His feature credits includeAva DuVernay’sSelma,Barry Jenkins' dramaIf Beale Street Could Talk, and theJesse OwensbiopicRace.
Waugh most recently directed STX’sGerard ButlermovieGreenland, and he’ll reteam with the star once again on the upcoming action thrillerKandahar. This is a promising package built around a powerful premise, and I look forward to seeing who else is cast inNational Champions, as I dig the director’s taste when it comes to casting.
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