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Academy Award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio is reportedly in discussions to take on the role of Evel Knievel, one of the most daring stunt performers in history, in an upcoming biographical film by Paramount Pictures. Despite the project’s nascent stage of development, it has attracted immense attention owing to the fascinating subject matter faced by it and the inclusion of parts of Hollywood’s top echelon.
Initially, the script was to be written by William Monahan, who earned an Academy Award for his work on The Departed, a film that also starred DiCaprio. On the other hand, there are new reports that Terrence Winter, author of the script for the Oscar-winning film The Wolf of Wall Street, is now in charge of the screenplay. With this shift in writers bubbling up, there is something rather intriguing about this part of the project, as Winter has a talent for coming up with interesting characters and exciting stories. Although progress has been made, the biopic still goes unmentored, leaving the fans wondering who will direct this cinematic feat.
It is claimed that the story is strongly based on the highly debated book Evel Knievel on Tour by Sheldon Saltman. Published in 1977, the book became a media sensation and plaguing Knievel, who branded it a fabrication of his private and professional life. The controversy even led Knievel to assault Saltman with a baseball bat, an incident that significantly affected his career.
Born Robert Craig Knievel in 1938 in Butte, Montana, Evel Knievel rose to prominence during the 1970s with his death-defying motorcycle stunts. Over time, he made over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps, with each progressively greater risk than the last. His best known stunts are seen in the ill-fated jump across the fountain of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and his attempt to sail Snake River Canyon in Idaho on a rocket-powered Skycycle. Knievel’s resilience and audacity made him a household name, but his career was marred by injuries; he reportedly suffered 433 bone fractures, earning him a place in the Guinness World Records.
If the role goes to Leonardo DiCaprio or someone else with that same star quality, it is another entry in the impressive catalogue of true person portrayals the actor has already made. From Howard Hughes in The Aviator to Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street, DiCaprio has proven his ability to embody larger-than-life characters. There is a promise to infuse Knievel’s iconic imagery with depth and complexity to the legendary stuntman’s public image.
Fans are eager to see how the film will explore Knievel’s life beyond his public stunts. Known as “The Last Gladiator, Knievel was not just an entertainer but also a symbol of fearlessness and ambition. Nevertheless, his personal life, complicated by legal difficulties and scandals, carries the possibility of additional levels of complexity which can be certainly unveiled by the experienced actor, e.g., DiCaprio.
Although release date of the biopic is not yet declared, the buzz on and around it continues to keep it on the shoulder. As of now, the site of DiCaprio’s next film is The Battle of Baktan Cross, an American crime film scripted and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson to appear in August 2025.
With its blend of high-octane drama and introspection, the Evel Knievel biopic could become one of the most compelling films in recent memory. As audiences await confirmation of DiCaprio’s involvement, the project’s potential already promises a gripping tribute to the life and legacy of a true American icon.
