Eric Bana Set to Write, Star and Co-Direct Mike “The Bike” Hailwood Biopic
Eric Bana is going all in a biopic based on the life of Mike “The Bike” Hailwood. According to Deadline, the actor will write, star and co-direct the film alongside Robert Connolly, having acquired the rights via his Pick Up Truck Pictures and Connolly’s Arenamedia company.
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Per the report, the film will focus on “the life and spectacular comeback story of Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood. Once considered the greatest motorcycle racer of all time, Hailwood retired from racing bikes at his career peak in 1967 after 12 victories at the Isle of Man TT. He set out to take back his crown in 1978, aboard a Ducati.”
Tragically, Hailwood was killed in a car accident (along with his daughter) when he was just 40 years old.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Eric Bana and Robert Connolly have taken Mike’s story to adapt into a feature film about his historic ‘comeback’ race win,” said Hailwood’s widow Pauline Hailwood, and their son David. “We are delighted that Mike will be depicted by Eric Bana, an actor with an immense passion and knowledge of motorsports, Mike’s career, and a rider himself.”
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Connolly and Bana recently teamed up for the film The Dry, based on the Jane Harper bestseller.
The Mike “The Bike” biopic marks Bana’s second directing effort after the documentary Love the Beast.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
