Relativity Media is in negotiations to acquire Anthony Mackie‘s Jesse Owens biopic, which will feature the “Captain America: Winter Soldier” star as the Olympic hero, an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.
There’s no writer or director on board yet, but Relativity hopes to have the film ready by next summer in time for the 80th anniversary of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where Owens won four gold medals and drew the ire of Adolf Hitler.
Mackie is producing the project with his manager Jason Spire as well as Jamie Linden and George Olson, the latter of whom wrote the script. Relativity’s Robbie Brenner will oversee the project for the studio.
Mackie’s Jesse Owens biopic will arrive on the heels of Focus Features’ own Owens movie “Race,” which stars “Selma” actor Stephan James as the sprinter.
Mackie next stars in John Hillcoat’s crime drama “Triple Nine” and David Gordon Green’s political comedy “Our Brand Is Crisis,” as well as Jonathan Levine’s untitled Christmas comedy, which co-stars Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The news was first reported by Deadline.