Update: After a heated bidding war, it’s been reported that Apple Original Films has acquired Edward Berger’s Lance Armstrong movie, which will star Austin Butler as the former superstar cyclist. And away we go.
— Original article follows —
From the sands of Arrakis to the Tour de France. Deadline reports that Austin Butler is attached to star in a movie about Lance Armstrong, the professional cyclist who took the sport by storm, only to be stripped of his titles after a doping scandal. Edward Berger (Conclave) is set to direct from a script by Zach Baylin (King Richard). Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbit will produce alongside Berger.
A Cross Between F1 and The Wolf of Wall Street
Scott Stuber, who will produce alongside Nick Nesbit and Berger, has been after Armstrong’s life rights for a long time. The producer wanted all or nothing, and following many lengthy talks with Armstrong, the cyclist finally signed off. The project is described as a cross between F1 and The Wolf of Wall Street, as it will cover the highs and lows of Armstrong’s life and career.
After surviving potentially fatal metastatic testicular cancer, Armstrong made a hugely successful return to the world of pro-cycling, going on to win the Tour de France seven times in a row. However, he had been accused of doping for many years, something he always denied. After the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) conducted an investigation, which concluded that Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs over the course of his career, he ultimately admitted his involvement in doping, which ended his career.
Berger’s Other Projects
Edward Berger has been busy with other projects. He’s currently shooting The Riders, which stars Brad Pitt (F1), Julianne Nicholson (Paradise), and Coco Greenstone (Windcatcher). It follows “Fred Scully (Pitt), who, after traveling through Europe for two years, winds up in Ireland with his wife (Nicholson) and daughter (Greenstone). And on a mystical whim of his wife Jennifer, they buy an old farmhouse that stands in the shadow of a castle. While Scully spends weeks alone renovating the old house, Jennifer returns to Australia to liquidate their assets. When Scully arrives at Shannon Airport to pick up Jennifer and their 7-year-old daughter, Billie, it is Billie who emerges — alone. There is no note, no explanation, not so much as a word from Jennifer, and the shock has left Billie speechless. In that instant, Scully’s life falls to pieces.“
It was also recently announced that he’s signed on to direct Stradivarius for Netflix, a drama set in 18th-century Northern Italy, where the world’s two best violin makers compete to build the perfect instrument.
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