STXfilms Re-Teams with Ric Roman Waugh for Sports Drama ‘National Champions’
STXfilms has acquired the rights to Thunder Road and Game1’s sports drama “National Champions.”
“Greenland” director Ric Roman Waugh will helm the film and Adam Mervis will pen the screenplay. Stephan James (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) and J. K. Simmons (“Whiplash”) are on board to star.
The film is produced by Basil Iwanyk and Brendon Boyea of Thunder Road (“John Wick”) and Greg Economou of Game1. Jonathan Fuhrman of Thunder Road, Matthew Helderman and Luke Taylor of Bondit Media Capital, Christian Mercuri of The Capstone Group, Michael Smith and Adam Mervis are on board as executive producers.
The film is set to shoot in New Orleans this May and is being fully financed by BondIt Media Capital and The Capstone Group. CAA Media Finance Group and Range Media Partners brokered the deal.
“Our experience with Ric on ‘Greenland’ was nothing short of extraordinary,” said Adam Fogelson, Chairman of the STXfilms Motion Picture Group. “When we had the opportunity to work with him and our friends at Thunder Road and Game1 on ‘National Champions,’ we jumped at the chance. 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.”
Waugh is represented by Range MP; James is represented by Norbert Abrams of Noble Caplan Abrams, Range MP and CAA; Simmons is represented by Gersh and Wolf Kasteler; Mervis is represented by Grandview and A3.