Glen Powell is gearing up to feel like the luckiest man alive.
Powell is set to star in Universal Pictures’ movie about Lou Gehrig that Richard Linklater is attached to direct, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Simon Rich, known for Saturday Night Live and the forthcoming Sam Altman-focused film Artificial, is penning the script.
Producers for the untitled project include Lorne Michaels and Erin David for Broadway Video through its first-look deal with Universal. Additionally, Powell will produce with Dan Cohen under Barnstorm’s first-look deal with the studio, while Linklater is in talks to produce for Detour Filmproduction.
Lou Gehrig played first base for the New York Yankees and was part of the famed 1927 lineup known as “Murderers’ Row” that included Babe Ruth. A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Gehrig died in 1941 at age 37 after battling ALS. Gary Cooper portrayed the athlete in the Oscar-winning 1942 feature The Pride of the Yankees, which focuses on his life.
Powell can soon be seen starring in Judd Apatow’s The Comeback King, with Universal set to release the comedy in theaters early next year. Powell also stars opposite Jenna Ortega in next year’s Warner Bros. feature The Great Beyond from filmmaker J.J. Abrams.
Linklater helmed the 2025 movies Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague. Powell previously starred in Linklater’s 2023 Netflix film Hit Man, which the pair co-wrote, after the actor portrayed a college baseball player in the director’s 2016 comedy Everybody Wants Some!!
This marks the latest sports-centric project for Powell, who is set to reprise his titular role in the second season of Hulu’s football comedy series Chad Powers.
Deadline was first to report on the Gehrig film.