The Express: The Ernie Davis Story
The Express | |
---|---|
Directed by | Gary Fleder |
Written by | Charles Leavitt Robert C. Gallagher |
Produced by | John Davis |
Starring | Rob Brown Charles S. Dutton Dennis Quaid |
Edited by | Padraic McKinley William Steinkamp |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates | October 10, 2008 |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
- For the British tabloid newspaper, see Daily Express.
The Express is an upcoming American sports film directed by Gary Fleder scheduled to be released by Universal Pictures on October 10, 2008.[1][2] It is based on the life of Syracuse University football player Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.
Cast
- Rob Brown - Ernie Davis
- Dennis Quaid - Ben Schwartzwalder
- Charles S. Dutton - Pops
- Clancy Brown - Roy Simmons Sr.
- Jordan Goone - Arlington Cowboys
Production
Production for The Express began in March 2007, and recently completed filming in the Chicago area. Rob Brown (Finding Forrester, Coach Carter) stars as Davis, and Dennis Quaid (The Rookie, Playing by Heart, The Day After Tomorrow) will play Davis' Syracuse coach, Ben Schwartzwalder. The role of Pops is being played by Charles S. Dutton (Rudy, Cry, the Beloved Country). Brian Wysocki makes a brief appearance playing an over zealous fan. The film is being directed by Gary Fleder (Runaway Jury). The screenplay was written by Charles Leavitt (Blood Diamond) based on the authoritative biography by Robert C. Gallagher, Ernie Davis, The Elmira Express: the Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner. Cinematographer Kramer Morganthau (Fracture); production designer Nelson Coates (Runaway Jury), in his sixth feature collaboration with the director; editor William Steinkamp (Runaway Jury) in his fourth; and Editor Padraic McKinley, along with Costume Designer Abigail Murray (Runaway Jury), in her fourth, round out Fleder's creative team.
Filming took place at Lane Technical High School in Chicago, Amundsen High School in Chicago J. Sterling Morton West High School in Berwyn, Northwestern University in Evanston, Aurora, Mooseheart, Hyde Park, and other Chicago metropolitan area locales, including some scenes shot on Olde Western Ave. in Blue Island, IL [3] and concluded its fifty-three day shoot at Syracuse University.[4]