EXCLUSIVE: While Brock Purdy continues to kick ass with the San Francisco 49ers, Skydance is looking to the tell story of another player that shares Purdy’s nickname “Mr. Irrelevant,” the moniker given to the last pick in the NFL draft. Sources tell Deadline that the studio is developing a movie about John Tuggle, who was given the title after being the last pick of the last round of the 1983 NFL draft. Jonathan Levine is directing and Nick Santora is penning the script.
The pic will be produced by Skydance Sports, with Levine producing with Gillian Bohrer for Megamix along with Santora. The film will tell the inspiring, heartfelt and true story of Tuggle, drafted by the New York Giants, and his enduring impact on his team and teammates.
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Mr. Irrelevant first started in 1976 when former USC Trojan and Indianapolis Colts receiver Paul Salata starting a series of events called Irrelevant Week for the player selected last in the draft. Since its creation, a handful of players have gone on to notoriety but Purdy has given the name new meaning since he took over starting duties for the Forty-Niners last season having still not lost a regular season game with his team currently one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. While Tuggle’s story is much different then Purdy’s, it still touches on all the notes that make for an ideal sports movie that Skydance Sports is looking for in its film slate.
Levine made his big mark with the hit 2011 comedy 50/50 that starred Joseph Goseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen. He most recently reunited with Rogen on the 2019 comedy Long Shot that also starred Charlize Theron. He has been dipping his toes in the TV realm as of late directing all eight episodes of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers.
Santora was showrunner on Amazon’s Reacher series and also created the Netflix and Skydance series FUBAR starring Arnold Schwarzeneger. He also also served as executive producer/showrunner on The Most Dangerous Game and The Fugitive.
Skydance Sports first two projects includes the Emmy nominated docu-series Good Rivals and the critically acclaimed feature film Air, both streaming on Prime Video. Last year, Skydance Sports and the NFL formed a joint venture whereby the former serves as a multi-sports studio to create premium programming across unscripted and scripted genres. The partnership’s first projects include a docu-series chronicling Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the Cowboys franchise, as well as NFL Draft: The Pick Is In for The Roku Channel and Kelce for Prime Video.
Megamix recently renewed their first-look film and TV deal with Lionsgate. The production company just premiered Scrambled, their first feature under the deal, at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival, and are also overseeing the studio’s sequel to Dirty Dancing, with Jennifer Grey attached to star.
Levine is repped by CAA and Santora is repped by WME and Gotham Group. Bohrer also repped by CAA.
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