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HomeIndustry SectorFilmExclusive: Jonah Hill to Play Pro Golfer John Daly in Biopic From...

Exclusive: Jonah Hill to Play Pro Golfer John Daly in Biopic From Hotel Mumbai Director

Two-time Oscar nominee Jonah Hill is set to produce and star in a biopic of pro golfer John Daly, Above the Line has exclusively learned.

The biopic will examine the excesses, scandals, and athletic achievements of the PGA Tour golfer, who is considered by many to be the “Bad Boy of Golf.”

Anthony Maras (Hotel Mumbai) is attached to direct the project, which Hill will produce via his Strong Baby Productions banner along with the team at Nashville-based Hideout Pictures, including partners Shannon Houchins and Potsy Ponciroli. They’re the duo behind last year’s acclaimed western Old Henry starring Tim Blake Nelson.

As it turns out, the team at Hideout had a prior relationship with Daly, and when they mentioned it to their agents at Verve, the agency thought it would be a good fit for Maras, who, in turn, is friendly with Hill. The filmmakers are now seeking a writer to tackle the script.

The Beach Bum
Matthew McConaughey and Jonah Hill in The Beach Bum/Neon

Matt Dines will oversee the John Daly biopic on behalf of Strong Baby, and a studio is already said to be in negotiations for the project, so stay tuned for updates.

Hill earned Oscar nominations for his supporting turns in Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street, and he most recently appeared in Adam McKay‘s Don’t Look Up. Hill has also wrapped the Netflix comedy You People, which pairs him with comedy legends Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. He co-wrote and produced that film with director Kenya Barris, and while it was initially expected to premiere later this year, it was recently pushed to 2023.

As a director, Hill has also wrapped the documentary Stutz, which marks his follow-up to his feature debut, the A24 film Mid90s, and chronicles the actor’s relationship with his real-life therapist, Phil Stutz. Hill is represented by WME and LBI Entertainment.

Maras previously wrote and directed the excellent 2018 thriller Hotel Mumbai starring Dev Patel and Armie Hammer. He’s also developing the indie Peachtree about the spectacular rise and fall of Atlanta porn king Mike Thevis, as well as several other projects around town. He’s represented by Verve.

A representative for Hill did not respond to multiple requests for comment over the past two days.

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