It’s not that often we get to see America’s pastime on the big screen, but the past year has seen the Oscar-nominated Moneyball emerge from Colombia, and Trouble with the Curve from Warner Bros. this past weekend in the US.
The latter will be bringing the sport to life once more next spring in 42, the biopic of legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, and the first trailer and teaser poster have debuted over at Apple.
“Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures are teaming up with director Brian Helgeland for “42,” the powerful story of Jackie Robinson, the legendary baseball player who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier when he joined the roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers. “42” will star Academy Award(R) nominee Harrison Ford (“Witness”) as the innovative Dodger’s general manager Branch Rickey, the MLB executive who first signed Robinson to the minors and then helped to bring him up to the show, and Chadwick Boseman (“The Express”) as Robinson, the heroic African American who was the first man to break the color line in the big leagues.”
Relative newcomer Chadwick Boseman (Persons Unknown) will take the lead as Jackie Robinson opposite Harrison Ford, playing the Dodger’s GM, Branch Rickey, who signed him to the minors and then brought him up to the big leagues.
Harrison Ford returned to the big screens this month in the IMAX release of Raiders of the Lost Ark – you can read our review of the massive-screen experience here – but it’s next year that we’ll be seeing his first new role since last summer’s Cowboys & Aliens.
Starring alongside the leading duo will be an excellent cast, headed up by Alan Tudyk (Firefly), Christopher Meloni (Law & Order), T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Ryan Merriman (Pretty Little Liars), Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead), and Nicole Beharie (Shame).
The Oscar-winning Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Man on Fire) is behind the camera, directing from his own script, and I can’t wait to see what he’s bringing us next.
42 is set for release in the US on 12th April, 2013, making for a perfect spring sports drama, before the blockbusters kick off in the following month. No word yet on when it will arrive in the UK, but hopefully Warner Bros. UK arm will release a film of this stature at the same time. For now, here’s the excellent first trailer, followed by the first teaser poster. Enjoy.
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