Robert De Niro is circling the role of Tommy Lasorda in a new Skydance Sports film about the legendary Dodgers manager, according to sources cited by Deadline.
The project, currently operating under the working title Tommy & Me, has Reid Carolin attached to direct. While the film is moving forward with Lasorda as its central figure, no details have been disclosed yet about what period of his life or career the story will focus on, or what dramatic approach the filmmakers plan to take.
The screenplay is by George Gallo, Cambron Clark and Carolin. Skydance Sports is the lead studio on the picture, with Jesse Sisgold, Jason T. Reed and Sandino Moya-Smith producing for the company. The producing team also includes Mandalay Pictures’ Peter Gube, Intuition Productions’ Keri Selig and Diane Galardi, and Reid and Garret Livetz for Free Association.
The potential casting would put De Niro in the role of one of the Dodgers’ most recognizable figures. Lasorda’s association with the organization spanned multiple chapters, from his time as a player to his long run as manager and later his public status as an ambassador for the Dodgers and Los Angeles.
A Dodgers life headed for the screen
Lasorda began his career as a player with the Philadelphia Phillies, had a brief stint in the U.S. Army, returned to the minor leagues and reached the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949. Most of his playing career unfolded in the minors, though he also pitched for the Dodgers and the Kansas City Athletics.
His larger mark on baseball came after his playing days. Within the Dodgers organization, Lasorda moved from scout to minor-league manager and then onto the major-league coaching staff. He became the club’s third-base coach in 1973 under Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston, took over as Dodgers manager in 1976 and remained in that job until 1996.
Across that managerial tenure, Lasorda compiled a 1,599-1,439-2 record. He led Los Angeles to four National League pennants and two World Series championships. He was named National League Manager of the Year in 1983 and 1988, managed four All-Star Games and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997. The Dodgers also retired his No. 2 jersey.
Lasorda’s post-dugout years included managing the U.S. baseball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where the team defeated heavily favored Cuba and won gold. He died in 2021 at age 93.
De Niro and Carolin’s recent work
De Niro is coming off the Netflix serial killer thriller The Whisper Man, which drew around 55 million views in its first two weeks on the platform. He will next be seen in Focker-in-Law, the fourth entry in the Fockers film series, which is set for release November 25. De Niro is represented by CAA and Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks.
Carolin directed the 2022 Channing Tatum starrer Dog and the upcoming Amazon MGM motorcycle racing drama Isle of Man. He is Tatum’s producing partner at Free Association. His producing credits include the Magic Mike films, Logan Lucky and Adam Sandler’s Spaceman, and he has executive produced titles including this year’s Sundance prize-winner Josephine. Carolin is represented by CAA, Range Media Partners and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
Gallo is represented by Gang, Tyre, Ramer. Clark is represented by CAA and Untitled.
The Lasorda project arrives as Skydance Sports continues building out its slate, with Mr. Irrelevant already generating attention ahead of its holiday opening. For now, the key question around Tommy & Me remains how the film will frame Lasorda’s long journey through baseball — and whether De Niro’s talks will lead to a deal.