Zachary Levi to Play Kurt Warner in Biopic
Mia Smith Lionsgate and the Erwin Brothers’ Kingdom Story Company have found their Kurt Warner.
Shazam! star Zachary Levi is set to play the two-time NFL most valuable player in American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story. The film, to be released by Lionsgate, is set to start production later this year.
Levi will follow Warner’s unlikely journey from stocking shelves at a supermarket in Iowa to becoming an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback. Jon Erwin and Andrew Erwin will direct and produce the film written by David Aaron Cohen, Jon Gunn and Jon Erwin.
Kingdom Story acquired Warner’s life rights, and the screenplay is based on interviews with Warner and his memoir, All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football and the First Miracle Season. “When I read Kurt’s story, I identified with the quiet strength he found to persevere — that’s something I think anybody can recognize in their own lives. This is the kind of underdog story that sports movies are all about, and the fact that it’s true makes it even more special. I’m thrilled to be part of bringing his story to audiences,” Levi said in a statement on Wednesday.
Levi has also starred in Thor: The Dark World, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Chuck. Mark Ciardi and Kevin Downes are producing American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, which continues a partnership between Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company that includes the I Still Believe and I Can Only Imagine movie releases.
Jim Miller and Chelsea Kujawa are overseeing the film for Lionsgate. Phil Strina oversaw the negotiation on behalf of the studio. Levi is repped by UTA, Untitled, and McKuin Frankel.
