Stephan James and J.K. Simmons are reuniting for the college sports drama National Champions for STXflims. The duo first starred together in 21 Bridges alongside the late Chadwick Boseman.
National Champions examines the big business of college sports, as the story follows a star quarterback (James) who ignites a player’s strike 72 hours before the biggest game of the year. He does this to fight for fair compensation, equality, and respect for the athletes who put their bodies and health on the line for their schools.
Ric Roman Waugh will direct the film from a script by Adam Mervis based on his play.
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Basil Iwanyk and Brendon Boyea of Thunder Road will produce alongside Greg Economou of game1. National Champions is being fully financed by BondIt Media Capital and The Capstone Group. CAA Media Finance Group and Range Media Partners brokered the distribution deal with STX.
Jonathan Fuhrman of Thunder Road, Matthew Helderman and Luke Taylor of Bondit Media Capital, Christian Mercuri of The Capstone Group, Michael Smith and Adam Mervis are executive producing.
“Our experience with Ric on Greenland was nothing short of extraordinary,” said STX chairman Adam Fogelson. “When we had the opportunity to work with him and our friends at Thunder Road and game1 on National Champions, we jumped at the chance. This is a film that taps into important issues and does it with compelling, authentic and memorable characters. In the best tradition of sports dramas, they will leave audiences rooting for victory and perhaps considering the competitive nature of college sports and athletics in a different way.”
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The film is set to shoot in New Orleans next month