Liam Neeson is heading to the rink for Believe 13, a fact-based hockey drama in which he will portray celebrated coach and trainer Jack Blatherwick.
The Oscar nominee’s latest role places him at the center of the true story of Blatherwick’s relationship with Jack “Jabby” Jablonski, a promising high-school hockey player who suffered a catastrophic spinal injury at age 16. Jablonski, who wore jersey number 13, was left paralyzed by the injury.
Robert Lorenz will direct the film from a screenplay by Randy Brown. The project, inspired by the lives of Blatherwick and Jablonski, marks the third collaboration between Lorenz and Neeson.
Believe 13 is scheduled to begin principal photography in Minnesota in early 2027. Solution partner Lisa Wilson will present the film to worldwide buyers at the upcoming American Film Market, while casting for additional roles remains in progress.
The Story Behind Believe 13
Blatherwick was a hockey training physiologist and longtime high-school coach who played a role in one of the sport’s most famous Olympic victories. He helped Herb Brooks prepare the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, which defeated the Soviet team during the Winter Olympics’ “Miracle on Ice.” Blatherwick later joined Brooks’ staff with the New York Rangers.
Jablonski was considered a highly touted teenage player before his injury. His resilience went on to inspire supporters across the country, while his high-school team later won the state championship. He subsequently spent a decade working on the LA Kings’ communications team.
According to the producers’ description, Neeson’s character is a retired hockey legend who has become isolated and is struggling with a loss of purpose. His life changes after he meets Jabby, presented in the film as an extraordinary young talent facing despair following his on-ice injury.
Their unexpected bond becomes the emotional foundation of the movie. Producers say the friendship ultimately helps both men and motivates Jabby’s high-school team in its pursuit of an extraordinary achievement. They describe the wider story as one about two generations connected by hockey, with a relationship born from tragedy growing into a lifelong friendship that reaches beyond the game.
Neeson Reunites With Robert Lorenz
Neeson brings his own established interest in hockey to the production. He is a longtime fan of the sport, regularly attends New York Rangers games and recently provided the voice-over for an ESPN NHL Opening Night spot.
Producer Kristin Hahn said the actor’s connection to hockey adds another dimension to the casting, pointing to both his “humanity and gravitas” and his genuine interest in the sport. She also highlighted his reunion with Lorenz as one of the elements making the project especially meaningful.
Michele Weisler said the drama will move beyond the action on the ice to explore “resilience, determination, hope, and the transformative power of second chances.”
Hahn is producing through Hahnscape Entertainment, alongside Weisler and Clearblack Films. Additional producers are Myles Nestel for Solution Entertainment and Matt Einstein of Tradition Pictures. Hahn secured the life rights and originated the feature.
The project arrives as hockey draws increased entertainment-industry attention following the success of the television series Heated Rivalry. With Believe 13, that momentum is extending to the film market through a story built around real people, a life-changing injury and a connection forged through the sport.
ShowBiz Take
Believe 13 gives Neeson a role shaped less by spectacle than by mentorship, purpose and recovery. The casting is also closely aligned with the actor’s documented enthusiasm for hockey, while his third collaboration with Lorenz brings an existing creative partnership to a notably personal story.
The film’s importance lies in its dual focus. Blatherwick’s history connects it to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team and professional hockey, while Jablonski’s experience supplies the central account of resilience that the producers intend to bring to the screen. Rather than treating the sport only as a competitive setting, the planned drama will use hockey as the bond between two men confronting profound changes in their lives.
What Happens Next?
The next major step will be the film’s introduction to international buyers at the American Film Market. Additional cast members have yet to be announced, and production is expected to get underway in Minnesota in early 2027.