Leave it to Disney to tackle a fun story and turn it into a fun movie. Anne Fletcher who directed 27 Dresses and Step Up is attached to a Disney project tentatively titled “The Matadors.”
The film is based on the male cheerleaders that perform at the Chicago Bulls home games. The original Matadors got their start in 2003 and have been a huge hit for Chicago fans and other sports teams are looking for something similar.
According to news reports, the film will follow two super fans of pro basketball that form a professional cheerleading squad for their favorite team. In the Associated Press release, Fletcher described the main characters as “These guys are the ultimate fans; the biggest deed they can do is dance and cheerlead for their team. I want to do an all-out comedy, and having dance elements, that was icing on the cake.”
Currently there are no actors attached to the film, but casting is should begin shortly.
Not a New Twist
A movie about sports or dancing is hardly new for Disney. They’ve seen tremendous success with their High School Musical franchise and with their sports stories such as The Mighty Ducks and more. Disney has a way of taking these feel good stories and really transforming them. Granted, there are times when people accuse the ‘Disney’-ification of films as too light and too much bubblegum, but I think inspiring stories can be light and bubblegum flavored while still doing their job.
Frankly, if the film inspires just one young man or woman to do something more with their love of a sport, a team or an idea – then that makes it worth it. Besides, we have enough doom and gloom in the world, bubblegum is necessary to help soothe the soul, too.
Synchronized Swimming
Disney is developing another film on synchronized swimming that is designed to poke some fun at it ala Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller. With the Beijing Olympics just around the corner, I’m surprised they don’t already have this film ready for release.