De Niro to star as legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Robert De Niro will be starring as legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi in the feature biopic "Lombardi" for ESPN Films, Andell Entertainment and the NFL.

Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") is now writing the script, which is focusing on the coach's career during the years he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the worst team in the NFL into five-time champions in 1961, '62, '65, '66, and '67.

De Niro and his Tribeca Production partner Jane Rosenthal are producing alongside Chris Olsen. ESPN Films and Andell Entertainment, which acquired Lombardi's life story rights via his estate and Vincent Lombardi Jr., are also producing with the NFL.

Rosenthal was quoted as saying, "We've had an extraordinary relationship with ESPN for five years through the Tribeca Film Festival, and now we're able to extend that association into production."

Producers are looking to release the feature on the weekend between the AFC and NFC Conference Championships and the Super Bowl in 2012.