
- Details
- By Levi Rickert
Pictureworks Entertainment is looking for the actor play iconic Olymypian Jim Thorpe in the upcoming feature film Thorpe. Director Tracey Deer, who was selected late last month to direct the film, and Rene Haynes, casting director, made the announcement in a press release last night.
Thorpe is an inspiring sports drama about the Indigenous multi-sport athlete Jim Thorpe. Aided by the legendary coach, Pop Warner, Jim attempts to overcome the devastation of the Native American boarding school system to achieve Olympic glory at Stockholm in 1912 and fulfill the words of his father to “show the world what an Indian can do.”
“My goal for Thorpe is to create a film that offers hope and inspiration, in spite of so much darkness, to show what is possible when you dare to dream. This is the gift of Jim’s legacy to us all,” Deer said.
Rene Haynes (Prey, The Revenant, The New World, and the upcoming Killers of the Flower Moon) is recognized internationally, as one of the foremost experts in Native American/First Nations/Indigenous casting.
“This casting call for an actor to play Jim Thorpe is a unique opportunity for a young actor to make a profound impact on screen because the story is so powerful and has to potential to inspire generations of Native American youth to excel in sports and other aspects of life,” Producer Nedra Darling (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) said.
The press release casting calling read “ROLE: JIM THORPE, male, to play age 22-25. The acclaimed Sac and Fox and Potawatomi athlete as a young man
(circa.1910 – 1913).”
“We are very much looking forward to finding the right young Native man to step into Jim’s giant shoes. We invite every tribe in the U.S. and Canada to encourage their young people to audition,” Producer Chris Taylor, Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana said.
For information on how to submit an audition, CLICK.
More Stories Like This
Here’s What's Going On In Indian Country, September 28 —October 5Alaska Native Heritage Center Honored with 2023 International Guardians of Culture and Lifeways Award
Eighth Generation Blanket Featured on Cover of British Vogue in October
Here’s What's Going On in Indian Country, September 21 —September 28
The Land That Carries Our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans Exhibition Begins Sept. 22 at National Gallery of Art
Stand with us in championing Indigenous journalism that makes a difference. Your support matters.
Support our Indigenous-led newsroom as we shed light on critical issues, such as the painful history of Indian Boarding Schools. To date, we've published nearly 200 stories dedicated to this important topic, providing insights and awareness to a global audience. Our news is freely accessible to all, but its production demands resources. That's why we're reaching out to you this month for your generous contribution.
For those who commit to a recurring donation of $12 per month or more, or make a one-time donation of $150 or greater, we're excited to offer you a copy of our upcoming Indian Boarding School publication. Additionally, you will be added to our Founder's Circle. Together, we can ensure that these vital stories continue to be told, shared, and remembered.