Don Cheadle is set to lend his distinctive voice to the upcoming documentary, “Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics,” a part of The History Channel’s expanded partnership with LeBron James’ SpringHill Company. This collaboration brings forth three compelling documentary projects that aim to delve into pivotal moments in sports history.
The first project, with a working title of “Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics,” will chronicle the remarkable story of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Against the backdrop of Hitler’s white supremacist agenda, Black track and field athlete Jesse Owens etched his name in history by securing four gold medals. Directed by Andre Gaines and narrated by Don Cheadle, the two-hour documentary promises a captivating narrative through archival footage, animation, and interviews with Owens’ daughters, journalists, historians, and notable athletes like Carl Lewis, Noah Lyles, Erriyon Knighton, and Christian Coleman.
Produced for the History Channel by Uninterrupted and Cinemation Studios in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment, the documentary boasts an impressive lineup of executive producers, including LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, Philip Byron, Andre Gaines, Don Cheadle, Richard Foster, Chet Fenster, Eli Lehrer, and Jennifer Wagman.
The second project, tentatively titled “Jim Thorpe,” shifts the focus to the multifaceted athlete who became the first Native American Olympic gold medalist in baseball, football, and basketball. Directed by Chris Eyre, the documentary is produced by Uninterrupted in association with INE Entertainment, Five All in the Fifth, and GroupM Motion. The executive producer roster includes James, Carter, Henderson, Byron, Eyre, Mark Koops, Eric Day, Doug Banker, Richard Foster, Chet Fenster, and Eli Lehrer.
While A+E Networks secures worldwide distribution rights for “Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics” and “Jim Thorpe,” details about the third project are yet to be unveiled.
LeBron James expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “The SpringHill Company was created to tell important stories, and through this partnership with The HISTORY Channel, we’re able to do that on a whole new level.” He emphasized the documentaries’ purpose in sharing meaningful historical moments with a new generation.
Eli Lehrer, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for the History Channel, echoed the sentiment, praising the commitment to shining a light on diverse narratives. Lehrer highlighted Jesse Owens as the perfect sports legend to feature in their ongoing partnership.