Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler) has been brought on to direct the upcoming Evel Knievel biopic starring Channing Tatum (Gambit), according to The Tracking Board. Simply titled Evel Knievel, the film will follow the life of the famous stuntman who took the nation by storm with his motorcycle stunts.
The project has been in development with Sony and Film 44 for some time now. The script by Reid Carolin (Magic Mike) has undergone revisions by Oscar-nominee Scott Silver (The Fighter). Aronofsky is replacing Peter Berg (Deepwater Horizon) who originally signed on to direct the film, but has exited the project for unknown reasons. This will be the director’s first time directing a biopic though he has previously made films about those who consume themselves with dangerous, performance-based jobs including The Wrestler and Black Swan.
From Butte, Mont., Knievel was best known for jumping his motorcycle over increasingly long lines of cars while wearing his iconic American-themed costumes. His success in the 1970’s led to countless forms of merchandise and acclaim. He retired in 1976 after an accident during a shark tank jump in Chicago that injured a cameraman, causing him to lose an eye. Knievel died in 2007. Along with this biopic, there is also a documentary on the stuntman’s life, Being Evel, which was released in limited theaters and VOD services this past August.
No release window has been announced for Evel Knievel. Aronofsky currently has no other directing plans though he’s producing the upcoming drama XOXO and the Jackie Kennedy biopic, Jackie.
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