As part of its on-going mission to create content that connects fans to the Olympic Movement all year round, the Olympic Channel today announced that it has commissioned Frank Marshall and Mandalay Sports Media (MSM) to create a signature documentary series for the global digital platform.
"Five Rings Films" (wt) is a five-episode series of incisive and entertaining documentaries directed by some of the biggest names in film from around the world. Scheduled to launch in 2017, each hour-long special will showcase the incredible humanity, variety and achievements of the modern Olympic era.
Peter Berg ("Friday Night Lights," "Patriots Day") will direct the first film, which will focus on the iconic Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson, a three-time Olympic gold medallist who famously turned down $5 million to fight Muhammad Ali, and the man responsible for his greatest achievements, the legendary coach Alcides Sagarra Caron. Filmed in Havana and the United States, the documentary will include exclusive access to Cuba’s sporting complex in a moment of historic change.
Marshall, whose producing credits include legendary titles such as "Jason Bourne," "Jurassic World" and "Indiana Jones" franchises, will executive produce alongside MSM’s Mike Tollin. MSM Executive Vice-President Jon Weinbach and Olympic Channel Sr. Commissioning Editor Gregory Groggel will serve as co-executive producers.
"Frank Marshall and Mike Tollin are among the world’s greatest storytellers and we look forward to creating high-quality and universally appealing films together," said Mark Parkman, general manager of the Olympic Channel. "This ambitious new documentary series, with the first episode by acclaimed filmmaker Peter Berg, continues the Olympic Channel’s efforts in bringing the stories of Olympic heroes to life through our original programming."
"The Olympic Games have a rich history of inspiring achievements as well as controversial moments, so I’m very excited to be a part of this new series, which will combine my passion for filmmaking with my passion for the Olympics," said Marshall.
"It's a dream scenario to work with a filmmaker like Frank and a treasure trove of Olympic history," added Tollin. "We can't wait to start digging through the archives and traveling the globe to bring these amazing stories to life."
In addition to depictions of iconic individuals and record-breaking teams, the "Five Rings Films" (wt) documentaries will spotlight athletes who have made an impact beyond sports, in realms ranging from politics to the environment to social justice. Additional subjects and directors for the series will be announced in the coming months.
Olympic Channel original programming showcases both short form and long form content focusing on athletes and their quest for success as part of the channel’s overall mission to reach younger generations and fans through content that strengthens their connection to the Olympic Movement outside of the Games themselves. The scope of the Olympic Channel’s original programming covers a diverse array of subjects including training, educational and youth-oriented topics, sustainability, sports science and nutrition, healthy and active lifestyles, historical footage and official films from the IOC’s archives.
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Philbin
Olympic Channel Communications Manager
catherine.philbin@olympicchannel.com
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