MICKEY KELLEY: Actor/BJJ Blackbelt Sean Patrick Flanery To Lead MMA Drama For Forrest Films
Forrest Films is currently on deck for a Fantasia premiere of Shaun Piccinino’s new underground fight drama, American Fighter. That premiere stars George Kosturos and kicks off later this month and I have a review in store for that one coming very soon after its premiere.
That film co-stars actor and martial artist Sean Patrick Flanery (Sinners & Saints, Eye See You, The Boondock Saints) who will soon star in the title role for Forrest Films’s next endevaor, Mickey Kelley, according to Deadline‘s Andreas Wiseman. The film is reportedly in pre-production and will be directed by Alex Ranarivelo who helmed Kosturos’s predecessor, American Wrestler: The Wizard, and penned Mickey Kelley with Flanery.
Set in 1990, the film follows Mickey Kelley (Flanery), one of the first American black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, who gets pulled away from everything he loves and into an unsanctioned MMA tournament, where his dreams of providing for his family come to a halt with a split-second decision. His life goes off the rails until years later he gets a shot at redemption.
Rounding out the cast are Katrina Bowden and Dennis Quaid, along with MMA Fighters Renzo Grazie, Edson Barboza and Mickey Gall. Maurice Compte (Narcos), Reno Wilson (Transformers) and Currie Graham (Pompeii) also star with Ali Afshar and Ava Rettke producing for Forrest Films. Flanery exec produces with Forrest Lucas.
Said Ali Afshar, who runs Forrest Films with Forrest Lucas and Charlotte Lucas, “Forrest Films is drawn to material and stories that lead with the heart and tell a tale of perseverance through conflict and struggle. Mickey Kelley checks these boxes and even creates new ones for us that will differentiate and elevate the film in the marketplace. Sean really created a gripping story here and we’re excited to bring it to life.”
Forrest Films’ president of worldwide marketing and distribution Scott Kennedy added, “Commercially, Mickey Kelley stands out by offering a powerful combination of action and emotion that tugs at audiences throughout. We have a great cast that plays this dichotomy off beautifully.”
Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.
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