Three Lance Armstrong Movies Are In the Works. Here's a Guide to Keep Them Straight.
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For some reason, there are currently three films about cyclist Lance Armstrong being developed. With so many movies planned about the same subject, details can get jumbled. We're here to help.
Red Blooded American
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Jay Roach (Game Change, Meet the Parents)
Who's attached? Bradley Cooper signed on to produce and possibly star as either Armstrong or Tyler Hamilton, Armstrong's whistle-blowing former teammate.
What's the source material?Scott Z. Burns (Side Effects, Contagion) wrote the screenplay.
Current thoughts: Hard to say considering an actor for Armstrong hasn't been confirmed, but the talent is certainly there for Red Blooded American to succeed. Roach isn't just a comedy guy; he's worked on Recount and Game Change, so he's clearly comfortable with non-fiction. Cooper as Armstrong would be believable, as he's played a brash jerk before (see: Wedding Crashers), but as far as looks go, he's an eerily good fit for Hamilton:
Untitled Lance Armstrong Biopic
Studios:Working Title
Director: Stephen Frears (The Queen) is directing.
Who's attached? It's up to Ben Foster to carry this one, as he's been tapped to play Armstrong.
What's the source material?John Hodge (Trainspotting) wrote the script.
Current thoughts: The film plans to cover everything from Armstrong's fight with testicular cancer to his fall from grace. For my money, Foster has a leg up on Cooper when it comes to portraying Armstrong's sympathetic side during both his cancer battle and his downfall. Frears' background with biopics is an advantage.
Untitled Lance Armstrong Project
Studios: Paramount Pictures, Bad Robot
Director: TBD
Who's attached?J.J. Abrams and partner Bryan Burk are producing.
What's the source material? Bad Robot bought the screen rights to Cycle Of Lies: The Fall Of Lance Armstrong, written by New York Times sports reporter Juliet Macur, before the book was even written.
Current thoughts: