Leonardo DiCaprio and The Brutalist’s Adrien Brody to Star in Damien Chazelle’s Evel Knievel Biopic? Here’s What We Know

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Excitingly, Paramount is eager to finalize an agreement with Leonardo DiCaprio, who will take on the lead role in a movie about the legendary motorcyclist Evel Knievel’s life. In addition to this intriguing development, it has been announced that Damien Chazelle, renowned for his work on Babylon, is set to direct the film. Moreover, Chazelle has a first-look deal with Paramount.

According to an article from The Hollywood Reporter, negotiations have been ongoing for several months, dating back to last year. Simultaneously, Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody expresses interest and aims to take on the leading role in this upcoming film project.

In case you’re unaware, Adrien Brody was awarded the title of Best Actor at this year’s Oscars for his role in “The Brutalist”. It appears that he had previously met Director Chazelle to discuss portraying the character Shelly Saltman.

As a devotee, I’m Saltman – an author and sports promoter with a unique past. Once upon a time, I had an encounter with the legendary Evel Knievel, who took a swing at me using an aluminum bat.

It’s also mentioned that Chazelle was previously developing a project about prisons, but he shifted gears and started working on a film about Evel Knievel once Leo DiCaprio showed interest in it instead.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’m excited to share that I’ll be diving into the creation of this captivating biopic. The script will be masterfully penned by none other than William Monahan, who has previously lent his talents to Leonardo DiCaprio’s Academy Award-winning film, the gripping thriller “The Departed.

According to recent reports, if a deal is indeed struck with Leonardo DiCaprio, production for the film could start as soon as this summer. Yet, Paramount has remained silent on this matter and hasn’t provided any comments.

If you’re not already familiar, Evel Knievel was an iconic motorcycle stunt performer who gained fame for his daring leaps. He showcased his skills by soaring over cars, fountains, and even canyons on his bike during the 1970s. His popularity stemmed from his jaw-dropping stunts.

After a notorious stunt performer assaulted Saltman (a high-ranking executive at 20th Century Fox and writer of a biography about a motorcyclist), he forfeited his reputation.

Or, more colloquially:
The famous stunt guy tarnished his image by attacking Saltman, who was a bigwig at 20th Century Fox and wrote a book on a motorcycle daredevil.

Both versions maintain the original meaning while making it easier to read.

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2025-03-07 19:07