Richard Linklater to Direct Glen Powell as Baseball Legend Lou Gehrig in Upcoming Universal Biopic

Richard Linklater’s affinity for baseball cinema has been unmistakable, from his “Bad News Bears” remake to the documentary “Inning by Inning: A Portrait of a Coach,” and most recently, the college baseball comedy “Everybody Wants Some!” Now, the director is setting his sights on another legendary figure of the sport: Lou Gehrig, the New York Yankees icon whose career and legacy resonate far beyond the diamond.

Linklater is set to direct an untitled biographical film about Gehrig at Universal Pictures, with Glen Powell cast in the role that made the legendary player famous. The project reunites Linklater with Powell, who previously co-starred with him in “Hit Man” and “Everybody Wants Some!”

The screenplay is being crafted by Simon Rich, known for his work on “SNL” and as co-writer of Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film “Artificial,” centered on Sam Altman. Production will be overseen by Lorne Michaels, a passionate Yankees enthusiast, alongside Erin David under his Broadway Video banner, which has secured a first-look deal with Universal. Powell will also serve as a producer through his company, working with Dan Cohen under Barnstorm’s Universal partnership.

Details about the film’s plot remain limited, but Deadline reports that the story will parallel Gehrig’s era with the character of Babe Dahlgren, the player who stepped into the lineup in 1939 after Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 consecutive games ended due to his ALS diagnosis.

Gehrig’s enduring legacy was previously portrayed in “The Pride of the Yankees,” the 1942 Oscar-winning film starring Gary Cooper, which also featured Babe Ruth in a semi-biographical role. If this new film moves forward, it would mark the first cinematic portrayal of Gehrig in over eight decades—and Linklater may be the ideal filmmaker to bring the story to life.

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