Key Takeaways
- Glen Powell will star as Lou Gehrig in an untitled biopic being developed at Universal Pictures.
- Richard Linklater is set to direct; Simon Rich will write the screenplay.
- The film is being produced by a coalition that includes Lorne Michaels and Erin David (Broadway Video), Powell with Dan Cohen (Barnstorm), and Linklater (Detour Filmproduction).
- Lou Gehrig’s legendary career—2,130 consecutive games, six World Series titles, the 1934 Triple Crown—earned him the nickname “The Iron Horse.”
- His story has only been told once on screen, in the 1942 classic Pride of the Yankees starring Gary Cooper.
- Sources indicate Babe Dahlgren, Gehrig’s successor at first base, may have a significant role, offering a fresh angle on the transition period.
- Powell’s recent credits include Hitman (with Linklater), Twisters, and the Hulu series Chad Powers; he plans a break after a busy year.
- Erik Baiers, Universal’s Senior EVP of Production Development, will oversee the project.
- Powell, Linklater, and Rich are represented by CAA among other agencies.
After the success of their 2016 collaboration Everybody Wants Some!, Glen Powell and Richard Linklater are reuniting for an untitled Lou Gehrig biopic at Universal Pictures. Powell will portray the legendary New York Yankee first baseman, while Linklater is attached to direct and Simon Rich to write the screenplay. The project marks a return to the sports‑drama genre for both filmmaker and star, leveraging Powell’s avid fandom and Linklater’s reputation for character‑driven storytelling.
Lou Gehrig, nicknamed “The Iron Horse,” remains one of baseball’s most revered figures. Over a 17‑year career exclusively with the New York Yankees, he played in a record 2,130 consecutive games—a streak that stood until Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed it in 1998. A seven‑time All‑Star, Gehrig captured six World Series titles, including the famed 1927 squad often hailed as the greatest team ever assembled, and won the 1934 Triple Crown with a .363 batting average, 49 home runs and 166 RBIs.
Gehrig’s career ended abruptly in 1939 when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, now commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He passed away in 1941 at age 37. His story has only been told once on screen, in the 1942 classic Pride of the Yankees, where Gary Cooper delivered Gehrig’s iconic farewell speech (“…today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth”). While plot details for the new film are under wraps, insiders say Babe Dahlgren—the player who replaced Gehrig at first base—may have a significant role, offering a fresh perspective on the transition period.
Powell’s deep connection to sports makes the Gehrig role a natural fit. A lifelong Texas Longhorns fan, he is currently wrapping production on the second season of the Hulu football series Chad Powers and starred in the 2024 box‑office hit Twisters, which grossed $267.8 million domestically and became the biggest opening ever for a natural‑disaster film. After a nonstop year of work, Powell plans to take a brief hiatus before diving into the Gehrig project.
Linklater and Powell previously teamed up on the 2024 Netflix comedy Hitman, and the Gehrig biopic felt like the ideal vehicle to reunite their creative sensibilities. Screenwriter Simon Rich brings a diverse pedigree: he wrote Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming Artificial (starring Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman), contributed to An American Pickle, and has staff writer credits at Pixar, Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, while creating the TV series Man Seeking Woman and Miracle Workers.
The film is being shepherded by a coalition of producers. Broadway Video’s Lorne Michaels and Erin David will produce under their first‑look deal with Universal; Powell will partner with Dan Cohen through Barnstorm’s first‑look arrangement; Linklater is in talks to produce via Detour Filmproduction. Erik Baiers, Universal’s Senior EVP of Production Development, will oversee the project for the studio. Powell’s upcoming slate also includes The Comeback King (set for a February 5 2027 theatrical release via Universal) and J.J. Abrams’ The Great Beyond, slated for fall 2027.
Representation underscores the industry weight behind the talent. Powell is represented by CAA, The Initiative Group, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole; Linklater by CAA and Cinetic Media; Rich by CAA and Eastman and Eastman. With a powerful creative team, a storied subject, and strong studio backing, the untitled Lou Gehrig film promises to be a noteworthy addition to both baseball cinema and the evolving careers of its principals.