Damien Chazelle's Evel Knievel biopic featuring Leonardo DiCaprio seems is not only advancing but is also set to begin filming sooner than anticipated. Puck’s Matt Belloni reports that a deal for DiCaprio is nearly finalised, with production scheduled for this summer. The original script was penned by William Monahan (The Departed), while the latest draft has been revised by Terence Winter (The Wolf of Wall Street, The Sopranos), with Chazelle making further adjustments.
Chazelle's Unique Take on Evel Knievel: A Year in the Life of a Stunt Legend
This biopic will diverge from the typical rise-and-fall narrative, focusing instead on the pivotal year of 1974, chronicling Knievel’s audacious plans to jump across Idaho’s Snake River on his motorcycle. Knievel, an American stunt performer famed for his daring jumps and fiery temperament, suffered over 433 bone fractures throughout his career, earning a Guinness World Record for the most bones broken in a lifetime.
Knievel's career faced a significant downturn after he assaulted a man with a baseball bat over an unflattering book, resulting in a six-month jail sentence and the loss of all endorsements. Chazelle’s previous film, Babylon, underperformed at the box office, but with DiCaprio now attached, Paramount is evidently eager to move forward. DiCaprio had initially been slated to star in Babylon before scheduling conflicts led to his replacement by Brad Pitt. He recently completed filming Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, set for release in 2025.
