Rorion Gracie’s story coming to the big screen
MSM’s Mike Tollin. “Considering the close relationship between the Endeavor Content Group, IMG and UFC, this immediately becomes a priority project for us.”
The most influential figures in martial arts history include Jigoro Kano, Bruce Lee, and Rorion Gracie. It was Gracie who answered the oldest of martial arts questions (what martial art is best?) with the simplest of answers (fight). Gracie’s efforts led to the founding of the UFC, which was eventually purchased by WME-IMG, now Endeavor.
Now Endeavor is funding a feature film about Rorion and the birth of the UFC. Mike Fleming Jr for Deadline details some of the project’s key aspects:
•The drama will be title Gracie;
•Robert Specland will write the screenplay;
•Gracie will be produced by Mandalay Sports Media’s Mike Tollin and Mason Gordon, and Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray;
•Ciardi has a long association with the Gracie family and Specland has studied Gracie Jiu-Jitsu;
•Gracie will be co-funded by MSM and IMG, which comes under the Endeavor umbrella;
•IMG executives Mark Shapiro and Will Steiger are overseeing the project.
No one could beat him, said an appreciative Ciardi, who called the movie a crown jewel of sports stories.
Ciardi is a former Major League Baseball pitcher picture who retired due to a shoulder injury. He has produced a number of films including The Rookie (2002), Miracle (2004), Tooth Fairy (2010), and Secretariat (2010).
Gracie is the latest film project to take shape under the MSM/IMG output deal,” said MSM’s Mike Tollin. “Considering the close relationship between the Endeavor Content Group, IMG and UFC, this immediately becomes a priority project for us.
