'Mavericks' - New Movie Role for Butler

Gerard Butler is set to star in Mavericks, an upcoming film based on the true story of surfer Jay Moriarty, according to Deadline.

The 41-year-old Scottish stud will play the mentor to Jay, who made it his “quest to ride the treacherous Northern California breaks known as Mavericks, where winter swells create waves the size of five-story buildings.”

Rick “Frosty” Hesson, Gerard’s character, trained Moriarity for over a year and forged a close relationship with the surfer in the process.

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/02/11/gerard-butler-mavericks-mentor/#comments

Gerard Butler to Star in Mavericks
Friday February 11, 2011

Deadline's reporting Gerard Butler has landed one of the lead roles in the surf movie, Mavericks, based on the life of Jay Moriarty. Moriarty drowned while free-diving the day before his 23rd birthday, however Surfline says his reputation as a surfer and a positive human being will live forever. "His much-heralded big-wave exploits and longboard expertise only dabble the first few brushstrokes of a life lived as a masterpiece," says Jason Borte in a November 2001 Surfline article.

Butler, according to Deadline, will be playing Rick "Frosty" Hesson, a former lifeguard and collegiate swimmer who was a mentor of Moriarty's. Hesson helped train Moriarty, coaching him on how to handle the big waves at the Northern California surf spot, Mavericks. Sean Penn and Russell Crowe had been previously mentioned as being interested in playing Frosty.

The project's set up at Walden Media (Butler did Nim's Island for WM) with Curtis Hanson (8 Mile, In Her Shoes) directing from a script by Brandon Hooper.

Butler has Machine Gun Preacher and Coriolanus hitting theaters this year. He'll be shooting Playing the Field, a pee wee soccer comedy, before working on Mavericks.

http://movies.about.com/b/2011/02/11/gerard-butler-to-star-in-mavericks.htm

This might explain the surfing lessons.

http://www.deadline.com/interstitial/?ref=http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/berlin-gerard-butler-set-for-walden-medias-mavericks/

EXCLUSIVE: Gerard Butler has been set to star in Mavericks, the Curtis Hanson-directed fact-based drama for Walden Media. The film is based on the true story of Santa Cruz surf phenom Jay Moriarity and his quest to ride the treacherous Northern California breaks known as Mavericks, where winter swells create waves the size of five-story buildings. Butler will play Rick "Frosty" Hesson, the mentor who trained Moriarity for over a year and forged a close relationship with the surfer in the process. Though Moriarity survived those impossible waves, he died at 22 in a diving accident. But he remains an inspiration to surfers, who coined the phrase "Live like Jay."

Hanson, who just directed the HBO financial crisis drama Too Big To Fail, is directing a script by Kario Salem and Brandon Hooper. Hanson is searching for a young actor to play Moriarity. Butler, who recently starred for director Marc Forster in Machine Gun Preacher and the Ralph Fiennes-directed Coriolanus, will hit the surf for Mavericks after he completes Playing The Field. That Gabriele Muccino-directed film is Shampoo set in the world of pee wee soccer, where a philandering former pro soccer player tries to reunite with his family by coaching his son's team, only to put himself in dangerous scoring position with a gaggle of beautiful soccer moms. Butler is exec producing Mavericks with Alan Siegel, and Hanson, Hooper and Jim Meenaghan are producing. Michael Bostick and Amanda Morgan Palmer are overseeing for Walden. Lakeshore Entertainment is selling foreign on the film, which will begin shooting in October. Butler's repped by CAA and Alan Siegel Entertainment. UTA reps Hanson.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Gerard-Butler-Will-Live-Like-Jay-For-A-Surfing-Movie-23129.html#

"Frosty the snowman...."

http://collider.com/gerard-butler-mavericks-curtis-hanson/75796/

Gerard Butler to Star in Curtis Hanson’s MAVERICKS

Gerard Butler has signed on to play surfer Rick “Frosty” Hesson in Curtis Hanson’s Mavericks. We first reported on the film about a year ago when we learned that Hanson was developing a movie based on the late legendary surfer Jay Moriarty and that Sean Penn was considering the Hesson role. According to Variety, the story will center on Moriarty’s “quest to ride the iconic Northern California break known as Mavericks, where winter swells bring in treacherous waves the size of five-story buildings. Moriarity trained for more than a year under Hesson, forging a relationship that transformed both their lives.” Hanson, whose last film was 2007’s Lucky You, will direct from a script by Kario Salem and Brandon Hooper.

While Lucky You was a misfire, Hanson tends to deliver solid movies and I’m interested to see what he’ll do with this story. I’m also thrilled to see Gerard Butler in a movie that isn’t a disposable, lowest-common-denominator, get-a-new-agent rom-com.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118032086?categoryid=4076&cs=1&cmpid=RSS|News|LatestNews

Gerard Butler to star in 'Mavericks' surfing pic
Walden Media pic directed by Curtis Hanson
By Dave McNary

Walden Media's tapped Gerard Butler ("300") to portray Rick "Frosty" Hesson in its upcoming surf pic "Mavericks," to be directed by Curtis Hanson.
Shooting's expected to begin in October. Hanson, Brandon Hooper and Jim Meenaghan are producing.

Story centers on the late Jay Moriarity and his quest to ride the iconic Northern California break known as Mavericks, where winter swells bring in treacherous waves the size of five-story buildings. Moriarity trained for more than a year under Hesson, forging a relationship that transformed both their lives.

Moriarity's story remains an inspiration to surfers around the globe, who've coined the phrase, "Live like Jay."

Moriarty died in 2001 in a diving accident in the Maldive Islands.

Hanson ("L.A. Confidential," "8 Mile"') will direct from a screenplay by Kario Salem and Hooper. Butler is executive producing along with his manager Alan Siegel.

Michael Bostick and Amanda Morgan Palmer are overseeing for Walden. Lakeshore Entertainment will handle international sales.

Butler is repped by CAA and Alan Siegel Management.

So if Evil Twins is producing, do we see more of Alan?

I can't get that bloody wipeout music out of my head!

After 2007’s poker-movie flop Lucky You, director Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential) is getting back in the game with a biopic about surfing legend Jay Moriarty with possibly Sean Penn attached to play Moriarty’s mentor, Rick “Frosty” Hesson. Via Production Weekly’s Twitter feed, the story will be “based on the true adventures of the surfing wonderboy.” His bio on Surfline.com says Moriarty was a laid-back, happy-go-lucky guy. There’s nothing negative about him in there and that may be due to the fact that he died the day before his 23rd birthday. So rather than a rise-fall-redemption story, this will probably be an overcoming-the-odds kind of tale.

The problem with most surfing movies is that it’s difficult to capture the exhilaration of the sport on film. Perhaps Hanson will have more success than others.

http://collider.com/curtis-hanson-to-direct-surfing-biopic-jay-moriarty-sean-penn-may-play-title-characters-mentor/20829/

The Oscar-winning director of L.A. Confidential Curtis Hanson is tapped to direct Jay Moriarity, a biopic about the surfing prodigy which will be hitting theaters sooner than expected.

The young Moriarity surfed the waves of Santa Cruz and enhanced his surfing skills in all kinds of craft, particularly in practicing the old-fashioned longboards. From there, he became one of the best ten-footer-and-above surfers in the world.

Moriarty has the gall and guts and convinced local surfing veteran Rick ‘Frosty’ Hesson to coach him for the invitation-only competition that is held at Maverick’s every winter. Moriarty passed away a day before his 23rd birthday in a free-diving mishap off the Lohifushi Island resort in the Maldives.

This will be one exciting biopic to watch as Moriarty is a legend in these modern times, especially in the surfing scene. While there’s no news yet about who will be playing one of the greatest surfer dudes in the world, Sean Penn is in talks to fill in the shoes of Moriarty’s surfing mentor, Hesson who was a former lifeguard and sophomoric swimmer who assisted Moriarity in a program of extreme mental and physical training to get ready to surf Mavericks, a spot on the California coast where five footer waves reign the scene.

Academy Award-winning Curtis Hanson’s other directing credits include popular movies such as 8 Mile starring Eminem and the late Brittany Murphy and Wonder Boys starring Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, and Robert Downey, Jr. This Moriarty biopic will be another smash as movie audiences and Moriarty fans will be able to see the spectacular wipeouts of the surfing icon being depicted on the big screen.

http://www.movies-on-demand.tv/news/biopic-of-surfer-jay-moriarty-to-be-directed-by-curtis-hanson/

Sounds like GB's stunt double will be working alot of overtime!

Interesting observation in the last paragraph:


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/gerard_butler_joins_curtis_hansons_surf_pic_mavericks/


Gerard Butler Joins Curtis Hanson’s Surf Pic ‘Mavericks’


Curtis Hanson was on quite a roll for a while there. “L.A. Confidential,” “Wonder Boys” and “8 Mile” were a trifecta of critical hits (”Wonder Boys” didn’t do so hot at the box office) that put the helmer in the top tier of filmmakers. Unfortunately, his next two efforts found him stumbling hard with “In Your Shoes” and “Lucky You” which were big misses all around. All while he’s currently found a home at HBO where he’s wrapping up the financial meltdown drama “Too Big To Fail” (geez, another one?), his planned to return to the big screen just got a major boost.

Deadline reports that Gerard Butler has decided to hit the waves with Hanson in the surfing pic “Mavericks,” a biopic of late surfer Jay Moriarty. The Santa Cruz native found his calling in the world of surfing at a young age and soon flourished with the guidance of local elder Rick “Frosty” Hesson, the role Butler is being lined up to play. The former lifeguard trained Moriarty with a vigorous mental and physical program in preparation to surf Mavericks, a spot on the California coast where waves five stories tall would come in during the winter swells. Moriarty tragically passed away the day before his 23rd birthday in a free-diving accident in the Maldives.

Sean Penn was linked in the role a year ago, and Russell Crowe was also rumored at one point, but Butler has prevailed. Hanson is now on the hunt for an actor take on the role of Moriarty.

So what’s the plan? Butler will first shoot the soccer dramedy “Playing the Field,” (formerly known as “Slide”) with “Seven Pounds” and “The Pursuit of Happyness” director Gabriele Muccino first, before moving over to “Mavericks” which will give Hanson some time to get the rest of his cast assembled.

Sounds like an interesting project but if we have one worry, it’s that Walden Media—know for purely lighthearted, accessible and rote family fare like “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “Bandslam” and “The Tooth Fairy”—are behind the film and we hope it’s not just a routine inspirational story. Because if it is, we think “Soul Surfer,” coming out in a couple of months, will fill the surfing-movie-with-heart niche fine enough.

I posted several articles which seem to have been deleted. I don't know what happened.

Anyway, I kind of agree with this article. I'm not sure a surfing movie is going to have wide appeal, unless it has a very compelling backstory. It looks like this movie might focus on their relationship and "life lessons" etc. but I'm not sure that people are going to race to the theater to see Gerry in some "Mr. Miyagi" role.


http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Gerard-Butler-Will-Live-Like-Jay-For-A-Surfing-Movie-23129.html#


Gerard Butler Will Live Like Jay For A Surfing Movie


Gerard Butler is starring in a surfing movie, which might be a good idea if anyone ever showed up to see surfing movies. Maybe Curtis Hanson can change that with Mavericks.

The film is based on the real life story of Jay Moriarty, a Santa Cruz surfing phenom who made his reputation surfing a treacherous place called Mavericks in California. He became internationally famous at age 16 when his spectacular wipeout at Mavericks was photographed. The movie will focus on his quest to conquer those waves, before he was eventually killed at age 22 in an unrelated diving accident.

Butler is being hired to play Moriarity’s mentor, a surfer named Rick “Frosty” Henson. Surfing movies aren’t particularly relevant anymore, but Moriarty was an inspiration to a lot of other thrill-seekers who still utter the phrase “live like Jay”. Besides, women seem to like seeing Gerard Butler shirtless, and it’s being directed by Curtis Hanson, the man behind L.A. Confidential and 8 Mile.

Ha ha.


http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-news/gerard-butler-to-return-to-natural-shirtless-state-as-surfer/




Gerard Butler To Return To Natural Shirtless State As Surfer


Curtis Hanson, who kind of looks like an old surfer, is going to be directing Gerard Butler, who kind of doesn’t, in a movie about surfing. Mavericks will follow the brief life of surfing sensation Jay Moriarty, who died at the age of 22 in a diving accident. Butler will play his surfing mentor, “Frosty” Hesson, who bonds with Moriarty until his death. The title comes from the famous (and infamous) surfing region in central California known for sick breaks and gnarly, uh, tubes.

Butler will also serve as executive producer of the film, which begins filming in October. No word on who is being considered for the role of Moriarty, but there are no shortage of young actors who fit the bill. As for the choice of Butler for Hesson, I view it to be a small tragedy that at no point was Keanu Reeves discussed in the mentor role. Full circle and whatnot.

I didn't delete anything. That is weird.

Then it must have been the Sock Monkey ...

Interesting comments about Chris Hanson, the director:

http://www.flix66.com/2011/02/11/gerard-butler-set-to-star-in-mavericks-for-director-curtis-hanson/


Gerard Butler set to star in Mavericks for director Curtis Hanson
Posted by: Brad Sturdivant

The very underrated Curtis Hanson has chosen surfing legend Jay Moriarity as the subject of his next film. Although the role of Moriarity hasn’t been cast yet, Hanson has tabbed Gerard Butler to star as Moriarity’s mentor Rick “Frosty” Hesson. I’m not a surfing guru by any means, but a quick wikipedia search revealed that Moriarity is a legend amongst surfers for tackling the insane waves in Northern California (called “Mavericks”), but died tragically in a diving accident. Hesson was the expert surfer that reluctantly trained Moriarity. Walden Media will be producing the film.

I’ve gotten into heated debates with readers over Gerard Butler (I don’t like him), but starring in a Curtis Hanson directed film is a good move for him. After 8 MILE, reports came out that Hanson spent countless hours cutting and structuring the film to make Eminem look like he could act. He was amazingly effective, so if he can make Eminem look like a legit actor, I’m sure he’ll be able to do the same for Gerard Butler.

Interesting comments about Hanson and Walden Media:



http://thefilmstage.com/2011/02/12/curtis-hanson-gets-a-butler-for-mavericks/


Curtis Hanson Gets A Butler For ‘Mavericks’
Published on February 12, 2011 by Dan Mecca


Curtis Hanson is an established, well-respected filmmaker. Gerard Butler has yet to prove himself in any kind of capacity that doesn’t involve the gym. Nevertheless, the actor is attached to Hanson’s Mavericks, a biopic of surf, wait for it, maverick Jay Moriarity. Kind of life the James Dean of the surfing world, Moriarity died at 22 years jumping off a cliff into the water.

Butler will play Rick “Frosty” Hesson, Moriarity’s real-life mentor. Something like the Burgess Meredith’s Mick from the sound of things. Walden Media is producing the film, so those kin of cliches are to be expected. Maybe there’ll even be a magical wardrobe or something like that. Who knows?

That said, Hanson has always been a solid filmmaker, even in his misses (see In Her Shoes). Chances are he’ll be able to squeeze drama out of this tale and maybe even some acting out of Butler. Well, let’s not get crazy. The role of Moriarity has not yet been cast.
Do you like Hanson’s work? Butler’s?