Untitled NFL Concussion Drama Filming in Pittsburgh

Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Will Smith during filming. Photo: KDKA CBS-Pittsburgh

11.11.14

The upcoming Hollywood version of the NFL concussion story, starring Will Smith, is currently filming in Pittsburgh, PA. The film is based on the 2009 GQ magazine article, Game Brain, by Jeanne Marie Laskas. Game Brain told the story of Dr. Bennet Omalu and his discovery of CTE in the brain of Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steeler center Mike Webster. CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy is the name of a degenerative neuro-cognitive disease that has been found in the brain tissue of deceased athletes who often suffered concussions and their heads were routinely exposed to violent hits and extreme rotational forces.

According to IMDB, the movie also stars Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson, Albert Brooks, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Bitsie Tulloch and Paul Reiser.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje plays Chicago Bears great Dave Duerson

Alec Baldwin plays Dr. Julian Bailes

Luke Wilson is rumored to play Roger Goodell

Paul Reiser plays Dr. Elliot Pellman

The movie is being directed by Peter Landesman, who previously directed Parkland, a film about the chaotic day at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital following the shooting of President John F. Kennedy.