Milo Ventimiglia To Star As 70’s Daredevil Evel Knievel In USA Network Limited Series
UPDATE (14/07/2020) – USA Network decided to scrap the series as it was due to film during Milo Ventimiglia’s hiatus from ‘This Is Us’, but with the pandemic messing up all the filming schedules, that was no longer possible, so they dropped it. UCP, who is behind the show, is shopping it to other places (with Milo still attached to star), so it may reappear at a later date somewhere else.
‘This Is Us’ star Milo Ventimiglia is stepping back into the 70’s in ‘Evel’, a limited series for USA Network about real-life daredevil Evel Knievel.
The series will follow larger-than-life 70’s daredevil Evel Knievel (Ventimiglia) as he prepares for his greatest death-defying feat, the historic Snake River Canyon jump. The drama is described as an exhilarating portrait of a complex man living the American dream, juggling meteoric celebrity and raising a family – and facing the very real probability that his next jump will kill him.
The drama comes from UCP, Atlas Entertainment and Wonderland Sound & Vision. Etan Frankel (‘Sorry For Your Loss’, ‘Shameless, ‘Animal Kingdom’) is set to write and executive produce. McG, Mary Viola, and Steven Bello of Wonderland Sound & Vision also exec produce, alongside Alex Gartner, Charles Roven and Topher Rhys-Lawrence of Atlas Entertainment and Ventimiglia. Russ Cundiff will co-executive produce on behalf of DiVide Pictures.
“USA Network is known for big event series that celebrate heroes, rebels and icons, and what could be bigger than the story of one of the greatest thrill-seekers of all time?,” commented Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks – USA Network and SYFY. “The incredible life and journey of Evel Knievel lends itself to a dramatic retelling, and we are excited to be partnering with Milo, McG, UCP, Atlas and Wonderland to bring this iconic American tale to our viewers.”
Ventimiglia currently stars in the critically acclaimed NBC drama series ‘This is Us’ as family patriarch Jack Pearson. The role has garnered him three Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. In 2016, he reprised his role as Jess in the continuation of the drama ‘Gilmore Girls’, which returned with four 90-minute episodes. His other television credits include ‘Heroes’, Frank Darabont’s ‘Mob City’ and ‘American Dreams‘. Recently, Ventimiglia starred alongside Kevin Costner and Amanda Seyfried in the feature film, ‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’, an adaptation of the international best-selling novel by Garth Stein. His other film credits include starring alongside Jennifer Lopez in the romantic comedy ‘Second Act’, playing Sylvester Stallone’s son, Rocky Jr., ‘Rocky Balboa’ which he reprised for a memorable cameo in ‘Creed II’.
‘Evel’ is expected to go into production in 2020. Still way too early for a UK broadcaster, but we’ll let you know when we have more.
