John Scott story has a movie deal; Mitch Albom to write script
The John Scott story has a movie deal.
According to a report from Deadline Hollywood, Mandalay Sports Media has acquired the feature life rights of Scott’s tale of his life as an enforcer, and how he was selected into the NHL All-Star Game via an online fan vote.
Longtime Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom, author of the book “Tuesdays With Morrie” that was made into a movie, has signed on to write the script for the Scott film.
Said Albom per-Deadline Hollywood:
I’ve covered sports for 30 years and living in a hockey town like Detroit, I’ve got a soft spot for hockey stories because like the city, it’s an underdog sport. When I first spoke to John, I didn’t know the wild turn this would all take. He was at the tail end of a career where he was an enforcer, also known by the ugly word goon, a guy whose job is to protect the skill players. I did say to John that first time that this sounded like a movie, and don’t be surprised if somebody calls you. He said, ‘Oh, come on,’ with all sincerity.
The movie will be produced by MSM’s Mike Tollin and Jon Weinbach. Albom will be an executive producer.
Albom wrote about Scott in the Detroit Free Press, saying his story was like a “Disney movie.”
According to his IMDB page, Tollin has directed other sports movies, such as “Summer Catch” with Freddie Prinze Jr. and “Radio” starring Cuba Gooding Jr.
He’s also been a producer on the “Varsity Blues” and “Coach Carter” as well as the aforementioned movies he’s directed.
Tollin was an executive producer on the television show “Smallville” as well as Yahoo’s Sin City Saints.
According to the Deadline piece, Tollin said there were “so many bidders” and this movie goes to the top of his pile.
Recently Scott said the film was being fast tracked, “while it's still fresh in everyone's mind.”
Here is our casting recommendation list for the Scott film. We would love your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section.
Scott, a 33-year-old enforcer with five career goals in 285 NHL games, was selected to the Pacific Division All-Star team through a viral internet fan vote. After he was voted into the All-Star Game, he was traded from the Arizona Coyotes to the Montreal Canadiens, making many wonder if he would be a part of the game. He hasn’t played in the NHL since, and has been in the AHL with the St. John’s IceCaps.
In a piece in the Players’ Tribune, Scott said the NHL tried to get him to not play, asking him, “Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?”
Said Scott in the piece, “That was it, right there. That was the moment they lost me.”
He scored two goals in the NHL All-Star Game, and voted MVP by the fans in leading the Pacific Division to the win.
Scott’s wife recently gave birth to twin girls. When he returned to the AHL after the game, he was showered with 'MVP' chants.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
