Elegance Bratton is in talks to direct an Arthur Ashe biopic as Skydance Sports joins the project
Elegance Bratton's latest project brings him to the tennis court.
According to Deadline, The Inspection director is in talks to film Hyde Park Entertainment Group's upcoming biography of tennis legend Arthur Ashe. Skydance Sports is also involved, and Kevin Willmott, the screenwriter for BlacKkKlansman, will write the script.
Ashok Amritraj, the head of Hyde Park Entertainment Group, will co-produce alongside Priya Amritraj. Algernal Gordon of Freedom Principle is also producing, alongside Ashe's widow, photographer/activist Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, and Alexandra Dell.
The biography was first revealed in 2020, along with the news that Warner Music Group would contribute era-appropriate music for the film, including songs by Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and Prince.
Amritraj has been very interested in seeing an Ashe biography done because he and his family have invested heavily in tennis. According to Wikipedia, Amritraj was a top tennis player of Indian heritage, and he and his brothers Anand and Vijay were among the first Indians to compete on the top-tier international tour. His nephew, Prakash Amritraj, a tennis pro in his own right, now provides commentary on the Tennis Channel, contributes to GQ India, and co-owns Miami Pickleball Club with football star Patrick Mahomes, tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios, sports agent Rich Paul, and Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo. Prakash, like his uncle, owns the film production and finance company Sterling Road Films.
With such a prominent tennis history, it's understandable that the Arthur Ashe Estate would fully support Amritraj and Hyde Park Productions Group's efforts to create the film. As expected, the film will center on Ashe's life as a tennis celebrity and pioneer, highlighting his status as the first Black player to join the US Davis Cup squad and the only Black male player to win Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open.
Ashe was also a civil rights activist, advocating not only for worldwide causes like Apartheid and protections for Haitian refugees, but also for HIV and AIDS awareness after contracting HIV in 1983 from a blood transfusion after heart bypass surgery. As a result of his diagnosis, he established the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS and spoke freely about the disease and its misconceptions.
Bratton is currently in post-production on the film By Any Means, which stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg.