Common and Steel Springs Pictures Join Forces for "Rising Above"

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Saturday, 10 July 2021 08:23

Written by Hildy Johnson

The original screenplay is being penned by Taylor Materne (Hustle).

Steel Springs' Peter Lawson (Spotlight, John Wick, Triple 9, Alice) and Stardust Films' Common (Wanted, John Wick: Chapter 2, Alice, "The Chi") are set to produce. Present and former US national and international soccer players Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley, Mo Edu, Oguchi Onyewu and Charlie Davies will executive produce and finance the development. 

The first black professional soccer coach in US history and the 2020 recipient of a US Lifetime Achievement Award, this July 4th marked Coach Phillips' 80th birthday. Steel Springs has also acquired the life story rights to Phillips and to his biography, Rising Above and Beyond the Crossbar: The Life Story of Lincoln "Tiger" Phillips. 

Rising Above picks up in 1971. The soccer team at Howard University has a record-breaking winning record and stunning form of play. Coached by 29-year-old Trinidadian Lincoln Phillips, a collection of men of color from all over the world beat predominantly white powerhouse Saint Louis University 3-2 in the championship game – only to have the NCAA take the title away because of two minor suspect infractions. These infractions mysteriously came after Coach Phillips and the team declined an invitation to the Nixon White House because of his tepid record with the Civil Rights Movement. 

In 1974, the Howard team gained redemption for being unfairly stripped of their national title years earlier, winning against St. Louis again in quadruple overtime. They went undefeated that season, 19-0, with 63 goals scored and only six goals allowed. That feat has been unequaled to this day. As former Howard student Rock Newman said "This wasn't just about a soccer championship. This was black excellence."

Steel Springs Pictures' Peter Lawson says, "I was blown away when I discovered this story. It's a part of history that was forgotten and must be told. We have an unparalleled team in place to bring Coach Lincoln Phillips' story to the big screen. I recently worked with Common on Alice, and believe with his shared vision and enthusiasm for the project, Taylor Materne's incredible screenplay and our ongoing collaboration with Lincoln Phillips and Howard University, we can bring something really special to the world of sports films. The support and belief we have from soccer stars Jozy, DaMarcus, Mo, Oguchi and Charlie is beyond humbling, it's a story they're passionate to tell and to honor their peers in doing so."

Common says: "I'm very excited and grateful to be partnering with Steel Springs on this project. This inspiring story is one we never knew existed and together, are passionate about telling. Taylor is an incredibly talented writer and someone we know who will tell this dynamic story with the nuance and sophistication that existed for these young black men who were excelling in the late sixties while not only dealing with the struggles of racism, but also with conflict within black culture."

US current and former professional soccer players Altidore, Beasley, Edu, Onyewu and Davies were immediately captivated by the story of Phillips leading the embattled Howard team to a second victory and the continued significance of the events today.

First overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and previous MLS Rookie of the Year winner Edu says, "We are really looking forward to working with Peter, Common and Taylor to bring this powerful story about Coach Lincoln Phillips and Howard University to life. The story resonated with all of us on many different levels. From a sporting and social lens, it brings to light some powerful conversations that this group of young black men had to deal with and champion against adversity. The way the players and Coach Phillips overcame so many obstacles in order to achieve success in a time period of social unrest is inspiring, and certainly led the way for young black soccer US soccer players today."

Common is represented by UTA/Grandview. Peter Lawson is repped by Lichter, Grossman. Taylor Materne is repped by CAA/Grandview.

About Steel Springs Pictures

Steel Springs Pictures is Peter Lawson's Los Angeles and Australian based production company which develops, produces and co-finances film and television projects that focus on thought provoking and socially impactful true-life stories. The company most recently wrapped production on the upcoming feature film, Alice from writer Krystin Ver Linden and starring Keke Palmer and Common, and has a number of projects in development. 

Lawson has built an award-winning career over the past two decades as a production executive, collaborating with top directing, producing, and acting talent. He has headed up production divisions at Miramax Films, Thunder Road, The Weinstein Company and Open Road Films.  Lawson was central to the creative and commercial success of Tom McCarthy's critically acclaimed and Oscar award winning film Spotlight and the Keanu Reeves starrer John Wick. Credits include: Sleepless, starring Jamie Foxx and Michelle Monaghan; Oliver Stone's Snowden, and John Hillcoat's Triple Nine.

About Stardust Films

Stardust Films is a multi-faceted production company specializing in Television and Film. Founded in 2020 and led by award winning artist Common, Stardust Films at its core bridges our greater humanity to the creative arts. Through shifting the landscape of how art is developed and produced, we strive to deliver thought-provoking and entertaining content.