Jackie Robinson Film In Development: Who Should Play The Lead?

Edwin Pereyra · 03-29-2005, 09:24 AM

From Variety:

Quote:

Howard Baldwin, a producer on "Ray," has come aboard as a producer on Robert Redford's untitled feature about Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier in 1947.

Redford will star as Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey. Redford's Wildwood Enterprises and Baldwin Entertainment Group have secured the blessing of Major League Baseball, Robinson's widow and Branch Rickey Jr. for the project.

Kirk Ellis, who won an Emmy for "Anne Frank," will script.

Redford has been developing the pic for the past year through his Wildwood Enterprises and Deep River Prods.

Story will track Robinson's upbringing in Southern California and center on the relationship between Robinson and Rickey. Robinson started for the Dodgers in 1947, enduring death threats, beanballs, abuse from fans, a rebellion by some of his teammates and the threat of a strike by the St. Louis Cardinals...

Now, as for the lead...

~Edwin

Robert Crawford · 03-29-2005, 09:26 AM

I remembered that years ago, Spike Lee wanted to direct a picture about Robinson with Denzel Washington in the lead, but he couldn't get the financing. If a movie is made today, a younger and maybe a non-famous actor would be best.

Eric Peterson · 03-29-2005, 09:29 AM

Paul Newman has been looking for a final project, and supposedly wants to work with Redford again.

Seriously though, I think it should be an unknown. I think it would work much better for this kind of a movie. It will make it easier for the audience to sympathize with what he had to go through.

Haggai · 03-29-2005, 09:39 AM

There was a version of his life story made all the way back in 1950, which I haven't seen. The lead role was played by quite a recognizable figure.

Edwin Pereyra · 03-29-2005, 09:45 AM

Well, Kevin Costner has always wanted to do another baseball movie.

~Edwin

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Robert Crawford · 03-29-2005, 09:50 AM

Well, Kevin Costner has always wanted to do another baseball movie.

I've heard Wesley Snipes too.

Actually, about 10 years ago he would've been a good choice for the role.

Crawdaddy

Jeff Pounds · 03-29-2005, 09:59 AM

Interesting.

There was an fabulous HBO movie called Soul of the Game made back in 1996 that followed the history of African-American integration into MLB. Link to IMDB.

It starred Blair Underwood as Jackie Robinson, Delroy Lindo as Sachel Paige and Mykelti Williamson as Josh Gibson.

Also, Edward Herrmann played Branch Rickey.

It was very well done, and while the Jackie Robinson story is the one that gets the headlines, I thought that the stories of Sachel Paige and Josh Gibson were much more compelling, as they were arguably the two best players in the Negro Leagues (especially Gibson), but both had a lot of personal baggage that prevented them from being the player to "break the barrier."

I wonder if their stories will be portraid in the new film...

Parker Clack · 03-29-2005, 10:11 AM

I still think that Denzel would be the great choice for the lead. I think Joe Morton is ready for a lead role and would be a great choice too.

Robert Crawford · 03-29-2005, 10:17 AM

I think both Denzel and Joe Morton are too long in the tooth to play a role of a 27 year old man. Ten years ago, maybe, but not now.

Crawdaddy

Edwin Pereyra · 03-29-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

I think both Denzel and Joe Morton are too long in the tooth to play a role of a 27 year old man. Ten years ago, maybe, but not now.

I agree. One thing I didn't post from the article above was this:

Quote:

Howard Baldwin told Daily Variety that the film will conclude when Robinson takes the field for the first time as a Dodger in 1947.

So, whoever they get to play the lead will probably the same one to portray his 10-year life span leading up to that day in 1947 (April 15). Washington and Morton would have a hard time convincing me as a 20-year old prodigy.

~Edwin