Luke Wilson (Horizon: An American Saga) and Greg Kinnear (The Present) will be starring in You Gotta Believe, an upcoming film based on a true story about Fort Worth, Texas’ 2002 Westside Little League team. The movie, currently in production and directed by Ty Roberts, follows a team of Little Leaguers who dedicate their season to a player’s dying father, Bobby Ratliff, played by Wilson. In the process, they defy all odds to make it to the Little League Baseball World Series championship in a game that became an ESPN classic. Kinnear will play the role of their coach, Jon Kelly.
Joining Wilson and Kinnear in this inspirational sports drama are Sarah Gadon (Ferrari), newcomer Michael Cash, Etienne Kellici (Horizon: An American Saga), and Molly Parker (Deadwood).
Production and Release
The film is being produced and financed under the Texas-based Santa Rita Film Co. banner, led by producers Houston Hill and Roberts. Additional producers include Matt Harvey, Pasha Patriki, and Byron Campbell. The project is being made through an entertainment licensing deal with Little League Baseball and Softball, and executives from Santa Rita and Well Go USA are also involved in the production.
Roberts, who previously worked with Wilson on the Great Depression football drama 12 Mighty Orphans, expressed his excitement about the project in a statement to Deadline: “We are excited to bring this touching story to life with our amazing cast. This tale of grit and determination will inspire audiences of all ages. Some of the most compelling stories come from sports, no matter what age. We are honored to partner with Little League Baseball and Softball to bring Bobby and Jon’s story to the screen.”
Liz DiLullo Brown, Little League’s Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, added: “For more than 80 years, Little League programs around the world have served as an inspiration to the communities they represent, and each year we see and hear about the hundreds of stories of Little League dreams and the spirit of community as the common thread throughout all of them. We are proud to support the production of You Gotta Believe and look forward to the inspirational message it can provide to fans as we remember that sport serves as a tremendous unifier to bring people together.”
Wilson, Kinnear, and the rest of the cast are represented by various talent agencies and management companies, including WME, CAA, Anonymous Content, and Circle of Confusion.
You Gotta Believe is expected to be released in 2022.