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Aaron Rodgers and Desmond Howard Executive Producing Amazon Studios Football Drama Work Horses for Director Anthony Hemingway

December 1, 2018 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris
Amazon Studios Work Horses

Deadline reports that Anthony Hemingway (American Crime Story) has signed on with Amazon Studios to develop a new college football drama Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard. The project is currently titled Work Horses.

Hemingway will direct the film from a script by Matthew King. It will look at the world of college football with high stakes and no pay. The film will also explore how the system profits off of players who struggle to stay afloat financially off the field.

Aaron Rodgers and Desmond Howard will executive produce the project with Ryan Rottman. Hemingway will produce it with ex-NFL and former LSU receiver Abram Booty and Nate Raabe.

Hemingway said on the project, “It speaks to the rigors of college athletics and the pressures and difficulties these young men face. I’m extremely excited to delve into this world of class, power and justice with ex-journalist Matt King as our writer.”

Howard added, “It is my hope that Work Horses will help shed more light on a topic I’ve been addressing on television for a dozen year. I want to continue to be a voice for the players and fight for systemic changes.”

With Amazon already showing NFL games during the week and having streamed several football documentaries, the Work Horses project represents another move by the Jennifer Salke-run streaming service for distinctly wide appeal in its offerings. Beyond Game of Thrones and people with capes in tights, few things entice and entertain America as much as football, as last night’s Thursday Night Football ratings revealed.

King’s spec script Boomtown, about the big money and big risks in North Dakota oil boom country, was picked up by Focus Features in 2015. The former Village Voice contributor is currently working on the music-based Idol, which has Hailee Steinfeld attached to star and produce and Netflix looks to be on board with.

Howard and Rodgers are repped by CAA. Hemingway is repped by WME and attorney Tom Hoberman. King is repped by Verve, manager Bob Bookman and McKuin Frankel.