After the unmitigated success of its recent 10-part docuseries about the greatest basketball player of all-time, ESPN has greenlit a nine-part series about the greatest football player of all-time.
Similar to what ESPN did with Michael Jordan for The Last Dance, Man In The Arena will be a “first-hand account of the most iconic moments” of Tom Brady’s NFL career when it debuts in 2021, according to Deadline.
Coming in 2021 …
Man in the Arena: @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/sObLdTXbIl
— ESPN (@espn) May 21, 2020
In conjunction with Tom vs. Time director Gotham Chopra from Brady’s Religion of Sports media company, the series will be spearheaded by ESPN Executive VP of Content Connor Schell.
“Nine Super Bowl appearances over the course of 20 years is an achievement on an unmatched level,” Schell said. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Tom Brady as he reflects on each of those nine, season-long journeys and the pivotal moments that defined them. Gotham Chopra is a highly skilled filmmaker who I am confident will bring to life this story of an icon in a new and revealing way.”
Brady’s new company 199 Productions will also be involved in producing the series and the star quarterback said he is “excited” to be in business with ESPN and Disney.
“Through the series, we’re defining the key moments and challenges that were seemingly insurmountable, but through hard work and perseverance, became career-defining triumphs, in both victory and defeat,” Brady said. “This compelling and powerful show will entertain, inspire and have you on the edge of your seat. We can’t wait to share it with the world.”
In a similar vein, Apple has announced it is working on a short-form documentary series called Greatness Code with LeBron James’s Uninterrupted, as well as Religion of Sports.
In addition to covering James and Brady, the series will highlight untold stories from world-class athletes like soccer star Alex Morgan, runner Usain Bolt, swimmer Katie Ledecky and surfer Kelly Slater.
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