A film about the life of former Calgary Flames star Theo Fleury is in the works.
According to a report from Deadline, production on Fleury is set to start in June and will be based on the seven-time all-star’s memoir Playing With Fire.
The book looked back on Fleury’s life both on and off the ice as he rose to the upper echelons of the hockey world while battling childhood abuse at the hands of a coach, his fight with addiction and eventual healing.
The film is set to star 40-year-old Canadian actor Kevin Zegers, best known for his work in the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead and Taylor Sheridan’s upcoming Yellowstone spinoff The Madison. It will be directed by Michael Young, who has previously directed Pitch Perfect 2.
“For Michael and myself, bringing Theo’s life to the screen has been a labour of love,” Zegers told Deadline. “With Theo’s support and encouragement, we are thrilled to begin this journey and tell his story with the same passion and fire with which he played.”
While Fleury has recently been known for his controversial and sometimes inflammatory opinions on social media, he was one of the Flames’ most productive players during his 791 games for the franchise between the 1988-89 season and when he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche 10 years later.
He is second all-time in points for the organization, with 830, and second in goals, as well, with 364. Only Jarome Iginla has more of both.
He co-wrote Playing With Fire, which was released in 2009 and revealed that he was sexually abused by former coach Graham James, who pled guilty to charges of sexual assault two years later after Fleury filed a criminal complaint. Fleury has been an advocate for sexual abuse victims ever since.