Lionsgate Aims to Make Movie About Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor
By Dave McNary
Lionsgate has launched development of Stronger, the story of Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman, who lost both legs in the attack.
The project has been set up with Mandeville Films principals Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman along with Scott Silver, while Peter McGuigan will exec produce. Lieberman and Hoberman produced The Fighter, which Silver wrote.
Stronger is based on the book by Bauman and Bret Witter and details the aftermath of the 2013 attack at the marathon finish line, where Bauman had been cheering for his girlfriend. A photo of Bauman moments after the blast remains one of the best-known images from the tragedy, which killed three and injured more than 260.
When Bauman awoke the next day after surgeries and realized he could not speak, he asked for a pad and paper and wrote, “Saw the guy. Looked right at me,” setting off a massive manhunt.
The book, published in April, also describes Bauman’s attempts to walk again and face his new circumstances with grace as he transformed from an aimless deli counter worker to a man driven with ambition and full of love.
“I saw the bomber,” Bauman wrote. “He took my legs, but he didn’t break me. He only made me stronger.”
John Pollono will adapt the script for Stronger, which marks his first full-length feature. Pollono wrote and co-starred in the off-Broadway play Small Engine Repairs.
Erik Feig, Gillian Bohrer and James Myers will oversee for Lionsgate.
Lieberman and Hoberman are exec producers on Lionsgate’s Insurgent, the second film in the Divergent franchise.
Brandy Rivers of Gersh repped the book. Bonnie Stylides negotiated the deal for Lionsgate.
CAA represents Pollono and Silver. Pollono is also managed by Underground and his attorney is Alex Kohner at Morris Yorn. Silver’s attorney is Bryan Wolf of Ziffren Brittenham.
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