There are certainly a lot of opinions out there regarding Hope Solo, the outspoken and often controversial goalkeeper for the United States women’s national soccer team between 2000 and 2016. She made plenty of headlines on and off the soccer field en route to becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion.
So it’s not entirely surprising to find out that a Hollywood film based on her life is currently in development. Per Deadline, the yet-to-be-titled feature film will be written and directed by Christine Crokos (Pimp) and produced by Argent Pictures (Hacksaw Ridge). It’s not surprising to see Argent get involved, as the company’s partners include sports stars Drew Brees, Tony Parker, Michael Finley, and Derrick Brooks, all of whom are expected to be executive producers here.
“We are very excited to be working to bring Hope’s life story to the big screen with Christine at the helm,” producer Ben Renzo said in a statement. “Hope is an amazing athlete, with an intense competitive spirit who has achieved some of the highest accomplishments in women’s soccer as a professional goalkeeper. Her journey to becoming an elite athlete and one of the best soccer players at her position is incredibly motivating, and that’s what makes this story special to us. We want to make movies that entertain and inspire – and Hope’s story encompasses those themes.”
Solo’s life story certainly lends itself to the biopic treatment. The heavily recruited phenom became a star at the University of Washington, breaking numerous records en route to becoming one of the top goalkeepers in conference history. She would go on to represent the U.S. in three World Cups and three Olympics, while also having a solid pro career with teams such as the Seattle Reign, Saint Louis Athletica, and Atlanta Beat.
It’s the other stuff that you probably know Solo better for. Her relationship with her father was extremely estranged. After being benched in the 2007 World Cup and watching the U.S. subsequently lose, she lashed out at her coach and replacement in an interview, saying, “it was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that. There’s no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves.”
Solo’s turbulent relationship with Seahawks player Jerramy Stevens also notched several dubious stories, including Stevens’ arrest on assault in 2012 following an altercation that left Solo injured. They subsequently got married wedding shortly thereafter, and that was followed by Solo’s arrest for assault against her half-sister and the other against her nephew in 2014. Oh, and Stevens wound up being sentenced to 30 days in jail for a 2015 DUI, one that got Solo suspended from the U.S. soccer team for 30 days given that she was present, that this was at the USWNT training camp, and that Stevens was driving a U.S. soccer team van.
Solo also was eventually was suspended from the USWNT for six months and saw her contract with them terminated after she called Sweden “cowards” following a 2016 Rio Olympics match. And that wound up being her final appearance for the national team. But there have certainly been positives for Solo as well off the field, though; she successfully transitioned into more of a celebrity and spokesperson as her career wound down.
Given that the film has been licensed from Solo, it’s unlikely to be a fully transparent biopic. Instead, it will likely attempt to thread the needle between what actually happened and what the topic of the film would like you to know. It’s not unlike the recent news that a Hulk Hogan biopic will be produced by him, which ensures that many of the unsavory details of his life are likely to be downplayed.
Unfortunately for the filmmakers, they won’t be able to call the film Solo, since Disney and Star Wars have that on lock. They’ll just have to get creative in the end.
[Deadline]
