Lionsgate unveils the first trailer for American Underdog starring Shazam!'s Zachary Levi as Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner. Based on Warner's memoir All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football and the First Miracle Season, the story chronicles the life of Warner as he aspires to join the National Football League and his fight through various setbacks and challenges with the support of his wife Brenda and coaches and teammates, ultimately becoming a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion and Hall of Fame inductee. Alongside Levi, the cast for the film includes Anna Paquin, Dennis Quaid, Cindy Hogan, Ser'Darius Blain, Adam Baldwin and Bruce McGill.
Development on American Underdog was first announced in early 2020 when I Can Only Imagine duo Andrew and Jon Erwin were hired to write and direct the film. Levi would sign on later in the year for the central role, with Paquin, Quaid and various others signing on earlier this year and production lasting from January to March amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Given its late production start, the film's release date has shifted multiple times, but with a current Christmas 2021 release lined up, Lionsgate is looking to build anticipation for American Underdog.
With just a few months remaining until the film's release, Lionsgate has unveiled the first trailer for American Underdog. The video offers a look at Levi's portrayal of Warner as he attempts to bounce back in the NFL and his rise to stardom with the help of the people around him. Check out the moving trailer below:
Click here to watch the trailer
Though the idea of a faith-based film may understandably put some off, those familiar with Warner and his life are aware of his Christian faith and with Levi himself having described being spiritual, he certainly seems the right fit for American Underdog. The first trailer for the film certainly does a good job of introducing those unfamiliar with Warner to the struggles he faced early in his career and building an emotional connection for how he will overcome them. The trailer also nicely highlights the physicality for the football sequences Levi brought to the role as much as his dramatic chops for the story's heavier material.
Since wrapping up the fan-favorite NBC series Chuck, Levi has gotten the opportunity to explore a variety of genres from the superhero world of Shazam! to Amazon's period dramedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His decision to step into the role of Warner for American Underdog is one that turned a lot of heads out of curiosity when first announced last year, given the retired football star and actor do bear some resemblance to one another and it would mark Levi's first major dive into the sports biopic world. Only time will tell whether the film marks a successful first venture for Levi in the genre when it arrives in theaters on Christmas Day.
Source: Lionsgate
