MMA Junkie reports that Double E Pictures has purchased the rights to the life story of Rich Franklin. It has commissioned a script writer and an executive producer for the potential movie which is tentatively titled, “American Fighter.”
Via MMA Junkie:
According to today’s press release, “American Fighter” will tell “the unlikely story of how Franklin, a family man and high school math teacher, taught himself mixed martial arts, quickly emerged as one of the dominant figures in the sport, and ultimately became champion of the UFC. The story also chronicles the rise of mixed martial arts as the fastest growing sport in the world and transformation into a billion-dollar industry.”
Founder and CEO of Double E Pictures, Eric Eisner, is the son of Disney CEO Michael Eisner. According to its web site, among Eisner’s credits is “Madden Nation,” which aired on ESPN. Essentially the show featured a tournament of gamers playing the popular NFL video game.
Payout Perspective:
Nearing the end of his career, it appears that Franklin is thinking of the future. Franklin has acted in the past starring in a 2008 movie entitled, “Cyborg Soldier” opposite Tiffany (Amber) Thiessen (of “Saved by the Bell” fame). So, it should not be surprising that he is looking to get involved in film. Hopefully for Franklin the film gets made. It is a great story that’s been chronicled in multiple UFC Countdown shows. No word on if or how Franklin might be involved in the film. With recent documentaries of Anderson Silva, Matt Hamill and Jens Pulver, it appears that there is an interest in learning the stories of MMA fighters. Its nice to see that MMA fighters are getting the opportunity to tell their story and erase (or reinforce) any negative stereotypes the fans may have about them.
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