Matt Damon to Narrate Boston Marathon Doc

Boston native Matt Damon will narrate a new documentary about the city’s famed marathon.

Titled Boston: An American Running Story, the film will hit theaters April 19 for a one-day-only engagement, to coincide with this year’s race.

The Jon Dunham-helmed documentary, the first of its kind to focus solely on the Boston Marathon, will shine a light on stories of triumph over adversity for runners and non-runners alike as it delves into the history and evolution of the world-famous race. The marathon generated news headlines worldwide when it was the site of a terror attack that left three dead and scores of amputees in 2013. The film was produced by Megan Williams and executive produced by Frank Marshall. Boston: An American Running Story is a presentation of John Hancock Financial in association with The Kennedy/Marshall Co.

Boston: An American Running Story also will feature behind-the-scenes footage from the recording of the film’s original score, composed by four-time Emmy Award-winner Jeff Beal (House of Cards) and performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall.

Damon has long been a fan of the Boston Marathon and contributed a marathon-themed introduction to John Hanc’s book The B.A.A. at 125: The Official History of The Boston Athletic Association 1887-2012.

He wrote: “Some of my most vivid childhood sports memories took form … by the side of the road near the fire station on Commonwealth Avenue in Newton … as enervated runners from around the world confront the historic Heartbreak Hill(s). I’ll never forget standing there in the crowd with my brother, Kyle, as we looked first for Bill Rodgers, and then, in the very same race as some of the most talented runners on earth, our smiling (and grimacing) 40-year-old dad.”

Damon’s brother and father have each run the Boston Marathon four times.

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