{TB EXCLUSIVE} Peter Berg Set To Direct The “Evel Knievel” Biopic Starring Channing Tatum

 EXCLUSIVE
〉 The Lone Survivor director will helm the biopic of the famous daredevil. 

Peter Berg has signed on to direct Sony’s EVEL KNIEVEL biopic, with Channing Tatum set to star in the titular role. The film follows the inspiring true life story of the famed stuntman that became an international hero due to his fearless and dangerous stunts. Berg will direct a script from Reid Carolin. Dana Brunett, Michael De Luca and Tatum are set to produce, with Eric Fineman and Jonathan Kadin overseeing the project for the studio. Film 44 and Trigger Street will produce for Sony.

Born in Montana in 1938, Knievel became an historic icon during the 60’s and 70’s, bringing live motorcycle stunt shows into the public eye. Over the course of his career as a stunt artist, Knievel attempted over seventy-five high stakes jumps on a motorcycle. He successfully jumped over fourteen Greyhound busses at King’s Island in 1975. His career was one of notable perseverance, as he suffered close to 433 bone fractures between 1965 and 1980. For that, he does however hold the Guinness World Record as having the most broken bones in one lifetime. His most famous signature move was arguably the “spread eagle,” which required him to hover over his motorcycle in mid-air during a jump, with his arms spread like the wings of an eagle. Retiring from stunts in 1980, Knievel remained a public icon to fans, before passing away in 2007. His jumpsuits that he wore during his stunts were based on the outfits worn by Elvis Presley, and remain an iconic piece of his legacy. 

In 2003, the life of Knievel was developed as a rock-opera directed by Keythe Farley, which premiered in 2007. Another biopic project entitled Evel has been in development since 2011, with Ric Roman Wraugh attached to write and direct, however, any plans for production have not been announced. 

Peter Berg is known for directing the hit war drama Lone Survivor starring Mark Wahlberg and Eric Bana, and the iconic sports film Friday Night Lights, which inspired the successful series of the same name, which he developed. Other credits include the Will Smith starrer Hancock and Battleship. He is next set to direct a number of upcoming projects, including a reboot of The Six Billion Dollar Man. He’ll also serve as showrunner and executive producer on HBO’s upcoming series Ballers.

Berg is repped by WME. 

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Lou Chase | Staff Writer