Stormzy’s #Merky Films to produce Ian Wright biopic

Stormzy’s #Merky Films is making a biopic of Ian Wright, with Stormzy named as executive producer.

Wright’s life story includes “a childhood of trauma, an inspiring teacher and a sibling who always looked out for him,” say the filmmakers, which describe the film as “the story of a Black British boy born to first-generation Caribbean immigrants against a backdrop of a working-class South London community, as relevant today as it was in the ‘70s.”

The biopic explores whether natural talent and hard work are enough to achieve the improbable.

Battling against the odds, Wright became Arsenal’s second-top goal scorer and Crystal Palace’s Player of the Century. He earned 33 caps for England, played against the likes of Beckham and Zidane, and faced injury setbacks that may have ended other careers. 

Retiring from football in 2000, Wright has become an acclaimed broadcaster, and won the Broadcast Sport Awards’ coveted Pundit Of The Year award in 2022.

He’s known for championing the women’s game and highlighting the impact on children growing up in domestic violence, and in 2023, he was awarded an OBE by Prince William.

The biopic script was written by Tom Wilton (Muscle, Bump, A Love Letter to M) and will also direct the film. He said: “It has been a privilege working closely with Wrighty to capture his story, not least because we both spent our formative years on the same estate. In Ian’s journey, I recognised the power of a dream, and just how difficult it is to keep going when the world refuses to see you. For a man so well-known, there is still so much for people to discover, including what it took for him to never give up. I made a promise to tell the history like it was - raw and real. Now, I can’t wait for people to truly experience Ian Wright’s incredible journey.”

Wright adds: “Telling my story in full for the first time feels surreal and, in some ways, a long time coming. There are parts of my life that will be familiar because they’ve been talked about over the years, but this film is the first time we’re bringing it all together. Retelling my story to Tom has also made me realise how much Britain has changed from my parents arriving here on the Windrush, what that meant for me and my brothers, and the experiences that will never leave me. I hope it shows how complicated life can be for a young person and the influence people around you can have – good and bad. My story is one that truly shows how the company you keep can break you down and build you up. There are hard-hitting moments but in the end I want it to give people hope and joy.”

The producing team includes Academy Award nominated producer, Sara McFarlane (A Love Letter to M, Red White and Blue, Love Brooklyn) for Essential Viewing, Stephen Tottingham for Serpentine Creative, and executive producers Stormzy and Akua Agyemfra for #Merky Films.

McFarlane said: “The weight of Ian’s story is not lost on me, and I feel incredibly honoured to be working with this team in bringing his story to the big screen. Tom’s script is a poignant reminder that no matter who you are or where you come from, you belong; that hard work actually does always pay off, and that persistence is key. At its core, this is a story about the come up – an underdog with a gold tooth from south London that made history on and off the field despite all obstacles faced.”

Tottingham adds: “I’ve worked with Ian for more than 10 years and it’s an honour to be producing his life story. I feel a sense of responsibility to do Wrighty’s life story justice – he’s one of Britain’s most-loved personalities and I can’t think of anyone else with the depth and breadth of his experiences. I know it’s going to capture people and show a side to Wrighty’s life that most people won’t have seen. The team working on this film brings years of experience in powerful, independent storytelling, as well as industry accolades, Oscar-nominated credits, and most importantly, a deep personal connection to Ian.”

Agyemfra said: “We are very excited to be involved in such a seminal project. Ian is part of British culture, it’s bigger than football and we can’t wait to bring this story to life.”

Stormzy adds: “It’s a real honour for #Merky Films to be co-producing Ian Wright’s story. Wrighty’s journey goes far beyond football - it’s about resilience, family and believing in yourself against the odds. He’s inspired generations on and off the pitch and we’re so proud to help bring such an important and powerful story to the screen.”

The biopic will be cast by Carolyn McLeod CDG, CSA and Matt Sheppard, the award-winning team behind BIFA winning and BAFTA nominated independent feature Boiling Point and discussions with studios and distributors are underway.