From his performance on the NBC sitcom Cheers to his roles in the Zombieland films, it's apparent that Woody Harrelson is one of the best actors for comedic roles. In fact, many of his fans feel he is more at home in comical situations than any other serious ones. As he continues to nail these roles, he'll appear as a quirky main character in the upcoming film Champions.
Champions is an upcoming comedy sports film directed by Bobby Farrelly and written by Mark Rizzo. A 2018 Spanish film of the same name apparently served as inspiration for this remake. The film, which stars not only Woody Harrelson but also several prominent actors such as Kaitlin Olson, Ernie Hudson, and Cheech Martin, looks exceptionally promising. With that said, here's everything we know about Champions.
Champions: The Plot
Champions is based on the true story of Aderes, a team that has been aiming to win the Valencian Special Olympics for years. The story follows Marcus Markovich (Woody Harrelson), who coaches a minor-league basketball team in the hopes of one day making it to the NBA. However, he loses his temper and causes a commotion on the court as the game is being broadcast, leading to his dismissal.
After being ridiculed by the media and humiliated by his colleagues, he ends up drinking heavily and crashes into a car on his way home. When he is arrested by police, the court sentences him to community service, which consists of coaching a Special Olympics basketball team. Although he reluctantly embraces the new position, it backfires when he realizes that the new team is not something he can change, let alone lead to the championship.
However, after a few encounters with each athlete and the supportive staff, he discovers more in common with each of them and acknowledges their respective talents. As he grows closer to each of them, he transforms into a protective barrier for these disabled people who encounter insults from strangers on a daily basis. Marcus, who used to mutter those insults under his breath in the past, grows as a coach and person after getting to know this new team and guiding them to victory.
The original film Campeones was well appreciated by viewers and was the highest-grossing Spanish film of the year in 2018. Hopefully, the remake lives up to the original in terms of international recognition.
Champions: The Cast & Crew
Woody Harrelson plays Marcus Markovich, a coach who aspires to be in NBA. He is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning actor with appearances in over a hundred films and television series. Harrelson's portrayal of Woody Boyd on the classic NBA sitcom Cheers earned him a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He has also appeared in major film franchises such as Zombieland, The Hunger Games, and Venom, as well as notable television shows like True Detective and The Freak Brothers.
Alex, Marcus' love interest, will be played by Kaitlin Olson, who grows on the audience throughout the film. She is mainly known for her role as Dee Reynolds in the long-running show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-2021). She was recently nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her performance in the critically acclaimed HBO Max comedy series Hacks. Longtime movie and television fans will also recognize the actress from The Heat, Finding Dory, Coyote Ugly, and Vacation.
Ernie Hudson plays Phil Peretti, who plays an important role in Marcus getting fired from his coach's position, setting him on a new journey. He is most known for his works Ghostbusters, The Family Business, L.A.'s Finest, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and The Crow. While these actors played essential roles in Champions, additional cast members include Cheech Marin (Julio), Matt Cook (Sonny), Madison Tevlin (Cosentino), Joshua Felder (Darius), Kevin Ianucci (Johnny), Ashton Gunning (Cody), and James Day Keith (Benny).
Bobby Farrelly, who previously collaborated with Woody Harrelson in 1996's Kingpin, directs Champions. He co-directed several classic comedy films with his brother Peter Farrelly, including Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary, and Me, Myself, and Irene. His other renowned works include Loudermilk, Hall Pass, and The Now. Mark Rizzo, famous for the animated Disney series Gravity Falls and the animated Netflix series Green Eggs and Ham, will handle the screenplay.
Woody Harrelson, Alexander Joss, Brad Kessell, Alvaro Longoria, and Luis Manso will serve as executive producers alongside Javier Fesser, who directed and co-wrote the original Spanish film Campeneos. Meanwhile, the film is being produced by Paul Brooks, Scott Niemeyer, and Jeremy Plager, with Cary Davies, Drew Locke, and Jonathan Shore serving as co-producers. The music will be composed by Michael Franti, who is known for his previous works Snakes on a Plane, Lady in the Water, Into the Storm, and Mystery Men.
Release Date
Champions will be released in theaters worldwide on March 10.