WWE Studios has acquired the rights to adapt Franklin Martin’s 2012 documentary Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story into a narrative feature film.
The film will center on Kevin Laue, a young man who defied all odds to become the first player missing a limb to play NCAA Division 1 basketball. Kara Holden — whose credits include Carrie Pilby, The Opposite of Love and Soul Surfer — is set to write the adaptation. WWE Studios is circling in on a director to helm.
Like Martin’s documentary, Long Shot will chronicle the trials and tribulations Laue faced and surpassed during his journey from the sleepy town of Pleasanton, California, to the basketball court of Manhattan College in New York City, where he became a member of the Division I team in 2009. Laue, now 25, was born missing half of one arm.
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“Kevin’s story is absolutely captivating and exemplifies true ambition, will and dedication,” WWE Studios president Michael Luisi said. “It’s a privilege for us to spotlight his inspiring achievements to audiences worldwide.”
Long Shot was released in October 2012 by Dutchmen Films.
WWE Studios will be handling worldwide rights and will leverage parent company WWE’s extensive platforms — including weekly TV shows, digital and social media and the WWE Network — to market the film.
Laue is repped by G. Pirozzi Consulting and Martin is repped by Gersh and Jeff Silberman of King Holmes.
Recent WWE Studios films include The Call with Halle Berry and the Mike Flanagan-helmed horror hit Oculus, starring Karen Gillan and Katee Sackhoff. The company’s upcoming slate includes Incarnate, starring Aaron Eckhart and featuring WWE star Mark Henry; the Ken Jeong starrer Killing Hasselhoff (featuring Hulk Hogan); and Vendetta starring Dean Cain and WWE star Big Show.
WWE Studios recently launched genre label Erebus Pictures with Gene Simmons.
