Leonardo DiCaprio To Star In Stunt Performer Evel Knievel’s Biopic? Here’s What We Know – News18
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Evel Knievel became famous for his daring motorcycle stunts which included jumping over rows of cars and buses.
Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly in talks to star in an upcoming biopic about the legendary daredevil stuntman, Evel Knievel. According to The Illuminerdi, the Academy Award-winning actor is being considered for the role of the iconic figure known for his thrilling and often dangerous motorcycle stunts.
The report mentioned that the screenplay for the biopic is being written by Terence Winter, the talented screenwriter behind The Wolf of Wall Street as well as notable TV series like Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos. In 2015, it was reported that The Departed screenwriter William Monahan was initially attached to the project. However, as per the report, Winter has now taken over the script.
Meanwhile, a report from World of Reel, citing Daniel Richtman, suggests that Damien Chazelle may be teaming up with Paramount to direct the stuntman’s biopic. Chazelle is renowned for his work on Whiplash (2014), La La Land (2016), First Man (2018) and Babylon (2022).
Evel Knievel, also known as “The Last Gladiator,” became famous for his daring motorcycle stunts which included jumping over rows of cars and buses. His stunts were just as well known for the crashes as they were for the successful jumps. Despite his fearless image, Knievel paid a heavy price for his career. He suffered more than 400 fractures which earned him a Guinness World Record for the most fractures by a single person. However, these injuries didn’t stop him and he continued performing stunts eventually becoming a cultural icon. His influence is still evident from Tom Cruise’s stunt performances to Bart jumping the Springfield Gorge in The Simpsons.
The biopic will be based on the book Evel Knievel On Tour by Sheldon Saltman which led to a dramatic turn in Knievel’s life. The book, published in 1977, angered Knievel because he believed it misrepresented him and his family. In response, Knievel confronted Saltman at the Fox lot where he attacked him with a baseball bat which broke Saltman’s arm. This incident led to Knievel serving six months of jail time. Due to this, he lost his endorsements while dealing with a significant blow to his reputation.
Leonardo DiCaprio is also preparing for another major project. The actor will star in The Battle of Baktan Cross, a crime drama written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film, scheduled for release in August 2025, also stars Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Alana Haim, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris and Benicio del Toro.
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