(Left) Leonardo DiCaprio attends the ‘Don’t Look Up’ World Premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 05, 2021 in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix. (Right) Evel Knievel in ‘Being Evel ‘.
Preview:
- Leonardo DiCaprio may play Evel Knievel in a new movie.
- Damien Chazelle is reportedly developing the film.
- It would chronicle the stunt driving daredevil.
With his most recent movie, the chronicle of careers rising and falling among the glitz and glamor of 1920s Hollywood that was ‘Babylon,’ director Damien Chazelle saw his own glittering career fall to somewhat of an unfortunate low.
The film, which boasted the star power of Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt among others, was a resounding flop with critics and audiences (though it still has its defenders), costing Paramount $80 million and only making $64.9 million at the box office.
Licking his wounds, Chazelle began to write his next film, though he admitted on the Talking Pictures podcast to some trepidation about whether he’d get to make something on that scale again:
“I’ve been head in the sand. I’ve been sort of busy writing. So I’ll get a real taste of how it’s changed or not once I get to finish this script and try to actually get it made. I’m in a sort of trepidatious state of mind, but I have no illusions. I won’t get a budget of ‘Babylon’ size any time soon, or at least not on this next one.”
Yet Paramount showed some continuing faith in the man who also made the much better received ‘Whiplash’ and ‘La La Land’ (both of which won Oscars), announcing at its CinemaCon presentation this year that it would be backing his next movie.
And, if a scoop from Daniel Richtman proves to be true, it could certainly be an ambitious one as it reports that Leonardo DiCaprio is rumored to be Chazelle’s choice for a biopic of stuntman Evel Knievel.
Who was Evel Knievel?
Evel Knievel in ‘I Am Evel Knievel’. Photo: Network Entertainment.
Robert Craig Knievel, who was known professionally as Evel Knievel, was a stunt performer and entertainer. Throughout his career, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps. Knievel was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.
Born in Montana, he became known for a series of big stunts, some of which were successful, the others… less so. On September 8, 1974, he attempted to jump across the Snake River Canyon in Idaho using a rocket-powered cycle called the Skycycle X-2. The jump failed after the parachute deployed prematurely, but Knievel survived with minor injuries. An attempt to jump the Caesar’s Palace fountain in Las Vegas resulted in some severe injuries.
Knievel sought to profit from his image through endorsements and marketing deals. American Eagle Motorcycles signed him, and his popularity grew with young boys. From 1972 to 1977, Ideal Toy Company sold over $125 million worth of Knievel toys.
Knievel’s fame led to TV appearances and partnerships with companies like AMF and Harley-Davidson. However, after an assault conviction and jail time, he lost endorsements and declared bankruptcy. Despite a decline in his daredevil career, Knievel made a marketing comeback in the 1990s and continued to be involved in various ventures. He died in 2007 from diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
“I really wanted to fly through the air,” he said shortly before his death. “I was a daredevil, a performer. I loved the thrill, the money, the whole macho thing. All those things made me Evel Knievel. Sure, I was scared. You gotta be an ass not to be scared.”
“For Fame, Fortune and Broken Bones!”
If Chazelle really is planning a Knievel movie, it wouldn’t be the first; there have been various movies and TV movies about him; one a 1971 effort called ‘Evel Knievel’ that starred George Hamilton, the other 1977’s ‘Viva Knievel!’ which featured Evel himself in the lead.
And there was movement in 2004 on a McG-directed biopic called ‘Pure Evel’, but it stalled in development.
More recently, Darren Aronofsky was considering an Evel pic, with Channing Tatum starring. That has presumably also fallen by the wayside since Aronofsky has moved on to crime thriller ‘Caught Stealing.’
Richtman’s report mentions that William Monahan is attached to write the script for the film, and he has a link to DiCaprio via ‘The Departed.’
But as of right now, this is all a rumor until either Chazelle or Paramount chooses to make an official announcement.
What else is DiCaprio working on?
(L to R) Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon,’ coming soon to Apple TV+.
The star actor, most recently seen in Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon,’ is on board for Paul Thomas Anderson’s next movie, apparently titled ‘The Battle Of Baktan Cross,’ for which he’s pocketing $20 million.
We’ll have to wait and see whether this one comes to fruition or whether it sails off into a canyon. But if Chazelle really does land DiCaprio, that would certainly go some way to helping matters.
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When will the Evel Knievel movie head to screens?
Given that this is still in development and mostly a rumor, there really is no real news to report on any release date.
Director Damien Chazelle on the set of ‘Babylon’ from Paramount Pictures.