‘Mr. Irrelevant’, Label Famously Given To Last Player In NFL Draft, Getting Movie Treatment From Skydance; Jonathan Levine Directing And Nick Santora Writing

Justin Kroll
·3 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: While quarterback Brock Purdy continues to kick ass with the San Francisco 49ers, Skydance is looking to the tell story of another player that shares Purdy’s nickname “Mr. Irrelevant,” the moniker given to the last pick in the NFL draft. Sources tell Deadline that the studio is developing a movie about John Tuggle, who was given the title after being the last pick of the last round of the 1983 NFL draft. Jonathan Levine is directing and Nick Santora is penning the script.

The pic will be produced by Skydance Sports, with Levine producing with Gillian Bohrer for Megamix along with Santora, who’ll produce through his banner Blackjack Films. The film will tell the inspiring, heartfelt and true story of Tuggle, drafted by the New York Giants, and his enduring impact on his team and teammates.

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“Mr. Irrelevant” first started in 1976 with the drafting of USC receiver Paul Salata, starting a series of events that have come to be known as Irrelevant Week. A handful of players in that position have gone on to success, but Purdy has given it a facelift since he took over starting duties for the 49ers last season; the onetime Iowa State QB has yet to lose a regular-season game, and San Francisco is among the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

While Tuggle’s story is much different then Purdy’s, it still touches on the notes that make for an ideal sports movie to add to Skydance Sports’ film slate.

Levine made his mark with the hit 2011 comedy 50/50 that starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen. He most recently reunited with Rogen on the 2019 comedy Long Shot that also starred Charlize Theron. Levine has been dipping his toes in the TV realm as of late, directing all eight episodes of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers.

Santora is showrunner on Amazon’s Reacher and also created the Netflix and Skydance series FUBAR starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also also served as executive producer/showrunner on The Most Dangerous Game and The Fugitive.

Skydance Sports’ first two projects include the Emmy-nominated docuseries Good Rivals and the feature film Air, both streaming on Prime Video. Last year, Skydance Sports and the NFL formed a joint venture whereby the former serves as a multi-sports studio to create premium programming across unscripted and scripted genres. The partnership’s first projects include a docuseries chronicling Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the NFL franchise, as well as NFL Draft: The Pick Is In for The Roku Channel and Kelce for Prime Video.

Megamix recently renewed its first-look film and TV deal with Lionsgate. The production company just premiered Scrambled, the first feature under the deal, at SXSW, and is also overseeing the studio’s sequel to Dirty Dancing with Jennifer Grey attached to star.

Levine is repped by CAA and Santora is repped by WME. Bohrer is also repped by CAA.

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