Marky Mark to play Vince Papale

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Vince Papale is before my time, but that doesn't mean I won't enjoy a movie about him.  He was on 610 WIP's morning show with Angelo Cataldi yesterday and was extremely excited about Disney going forward with the movie.  It will be shot in Philadelphia and feature Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale.  As far as I can make out, it is a Rocky like story of a bartender/school teacher who ends up playing for the Eagles.  The producers are the same guys who brought you Miracle and The Rookie.

Link: Philadelphia Inquirer | 05/03/2005 | Inqlings | Tale of unlikely Eagle Vince Papale to be shot in Philly.

The story of Vince Papale - the Interboro High substitute teacher and part-time bartender who won a walk-on role with the Eagles nearly 30 years ago - is coming to the big screen, and the bulk of it will be shot here this summer for Disney.

Producer Mark Ciardi, a Jersey guy, says he and partner Gordon Gray of Mayhem Pictures have Mark Wahlberg coming in to star as the hard-charging special-teams ace/wide receiver. The 12-week shoot will start in early August. Ericson Core, who was cinematographer on Payback and The Fast and the Furious, will direct.

Other roles must be cast. Kevin Bacon's name has been bandied about for the role of coach Dick Vermeil.

Invincible was a working title, but Ciardi and Gray may not be able to obtain it. "So it's The Untitled Vince Papale Project," Ciardi said yesterday. Gray and Ciardi produced Miracle and The Rookie for Disney. The script is by Brad Gann and Mike Rich (The Rookie).

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