Former Football Star Getting Biopic Titled RICKY WILLIAMS IN AUSTRALIA Following His Year-Long Sabbatical

Former football star Ricky Williams is getting a biopic based on his career titled Ricky Williams in Australia. The film will focus specifically on Williams’ sabbatical in Australia. His football career began at the University of Texas, where “he was a two-time All-American, won the 1998 Heisman Trophy and set the all-time college rushing record. He also played for 11 seasons in the NFL, spending most of his career with the Miami Dolphins, but the player’s time in the league was unconventional and his football career was cut short when Williams chose to abruptly quit the NFL in his prime. Off the field, Williams quietly suffered from social anxiety disorder, routinely doing interviews with his helmet on.”

Williams will co-write the movie with Modern Magic co-founder and Academy Award-winner Rodney Rothman. Rothman will also direct the project, producing alongside Adam Rosenberg on behalf of Modern Magic.

Williams said of the project:

“It’s been exciting working with Rodney on telling the story of the most magical and transformative time of my life, when I became more than just an athlete. My hope is that people will be inspired to pursue their own unique paths.”

Rothman said:

“Fifteen years ago, I read about a Heisman trophy-winning NFL player named Ricky Williams who’d abruptly quit the pros in his prime and vanished. Nobody knew where he was. Nobody knew how to find him. Months later he was discovered living in a tent in a backpacker’s commune in Byron Bay, Australia, undergoing a strange and transformative experience,”

Rothman continued:

“He’s a special person, and I’m honored he trusts me to help tell the story of his moving, funny, one-of-a-kind journey, involving Buddha, Kali, Jesus, Marley, football, parenthood, Julie Andrews, Lenny Kravitz and everything in between.”

This sounds like an interesting project. I’m not familiar with Williams’ story, but I am definitely intrigued. Does this sound like a biopic you’d like to check out?

via: Variety