Channing Tatum’s interest in revving up a film about late, great stuntman Robert “Evel” Knievel dates back as far as 2012, but a new report by Deadline suggests that the long-gestating biopic could be beginning to gain some traction. According to the outlet, the latest name to be attached to Sony’s project is Black Swan and Noah director Darren Aronofsky, with early talks underway between both parties for the Evel Knievel movie.
Charting the life and times of the American daredevil, we assume that Sony is massaging the nascent project to become something akin to Aronofsky’s The Wrestler: an astute and powerful dissection of an adrenaline junkie who lived on the edge. Indeed, Knievel still holds his own place in history thanks to the Guinness Book of World Records, earning the “most bones broken in a lifetime” accolade with an eye-watering 433. Well, we did say he lived life on the edge.
Tatum’s longstanding interest in the feature film would make us inclined to believe that he could star as Evel Knievel in the final product, though with Darren Aronofsky in negotiations, it’s really anyone’s guess how the feature could pan out.
While we await confirmation on the director’s involvement in the project, Deadline can confirm that Damien Saccani is set to join Tatum, Reid Carolin, Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti to produce the biopic.
After capturing the imaginations of thousands and lapping up the adulation of his fans, Evel Knievel passed away in 2007, though his legacy may live on at Sony just as soon as the studio gets its ducks in a row.
