In May of 2016, ESPN and its 30 for 30 series released a five-part series entitled O.J. Made in America about the life and double murder trial of O.J. Simpson. The critically acclaimed documentary was directed by Ezra Edelman, who is now in talks to direct a movie about another famous sports story.
During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Richard Jewell was a security guard in Olympic Park when a bombing occurred. Jewell’s life eventually went south after law enforcement leaked to a reporter Jewell was a possible suspect in the bombing.
In the beginning, Jewell was considered a hero for saving people during the bombing, but that title quickly went away when people began to think he was responsible for the bombing. Jonah Hill has been attached to the role of Jewell for awhile, while the script was written by Billy Ray, who also wrote the critically acclaimed Captain Phillips.
Now, after a long search for a director, it looks like the project may have found its director in Edelman. Another big name attached to the project is Leonardo DiCaprio, who could come on as Jewell’s lawyer. DiCaprio and Hill worked together in The Wolf of Wall Street. Also on board to produce is Appian Way’s DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Hill and Kevin Mishner, and Andy Berman.
The movie is based on the Vanity Fair article titled “The Ballad of Richard Jewell,” which was brought into the 20th Century Fox family two years ago for a movie project. Meanwhile Kevin Mishner, who is on board to produce, bought the article after it was published.
Once again, Edelman recently directed the 30 for 30 O.J. Made in America.
Oddly enough, there’s already a 30 for 30 short on the story of Richard Jewell as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XquHv-Z0Edc
[Deadline]
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