Imagine Entertainment and Seine Pictures announced today that the biopic Pelé will begin production this August. Produced by Brian Grazer (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind), the film will chronicle the life of the titular Brazilian soccer prodigy as he led the country to its first World Cup win in history in 1958 and solidified himself as the greatest player of all time. Michael Zimbalist and Jeff Zimbalist (The Two Escobars) wrote and will direct the film, but casting has yet to be announced. Producers are hoping to release the biopic next year to coincide with the 2014 World Cup. Hit the jump for the full press release, which includes the film’s logline.
IMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT AND SEINE PICTURES PLAY BALL WITH
PELÉ
SOCCER LEGEND’S LIFE STORY TO BE BROUGHT TO THE BIG SCREEN BY WRITER/DIRECTORS MICHAEL AND JEFF ZIMBALIST
EXCLUSIVE MEDIA INTERNATIONAL TO LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL SALES AT CANNES
May 9th 2013
Writer/Directors: The feature film is written and will be directed by Michael Zimbalist and Jeff Zimbalist.
Production Companies: Imagine Entertainment and Seine Pictures
Producers: Brian Grazer, Ivan Orlic, Kim Roth and Dany Wolf
Executive Producers: Pelé, Paul Kemsley, Guy East
International Sales: Exclusive Media’s President of International Sales and Distribution, Alex Walton will introduce the film to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
Domestic Rights: Domestic rights are jointly repped by CAA and WME
Logline: PELÉ tells the inspirational story of Pelé’s rise to glory, from his impoverished youth in Brazil to a soccer prodigy who put the hopes and dreams of his country on his shoulders, to lead Brazil to its first ever world cup victory in 1958 and become the greatest player that ever lived.
Status: Currently in pre-production for an August 2013 start date.
Additional Information:
Imagine Entertainment and Seine Pictures licensed Pelé’s life rights from Sports Licensing International B.V.
The deals were negotiated by WME on behalf of Pelé, Paul Kemsley, Michael and Jeff Zimbalist and Sports Licensing International B.V; CAA on behalf of Imagine Entertainment; Michael Mayerson and Kevin Garlitz of Loeb&Loeb on behalf of Seine Pictures; and Exclusive Media’s COO of International, Paul Davidge.
Pelé will be at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival to support the international launch of the film.
The Zimbalist brothers directed and produced together the Cannes Film Festival 2010 title THE TWO ESCOBARS which was released by Disney / ESPN Films and was also nominated for an Emmy Award. Jeff Zimbalist additionally directed FAVELA RISING which garnered him the Best Emerging Filmmaker Award at the 2005 TriBeCa Film Festival and an Emmy Award nomination in 2006.
Launched in 2012, Ivan Orlic’s Seine Pictures is actively engaged in pursuing projects both as producers and financiers. Under the direction of Benjamin Mathes, Caroline Bernhardt, and founder Ivan Orlic, the company currently has a number of projects in active development.
Imagine Entertainment and Exclusive Media are currently in post-production on the epic action thriller RUSH, dated for US release through Universal Pictures on September 20th, 2013.