Skydance Sports and Hyde Park Entertainment Team Up for Arthur Ashe Biopic Directed by Elegance Bratton

Skydance Sports is joining forces with Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group to produce a compelling biopic about tennis legend and civil rights activist Arthur Ashe. Director Elegance Bratton, known for The Inspection and By Any Means, is currently in talks to helm the project.

Kevin Willmott, Oscar-winning writer of BlacKkKlansman, is confirmed to write the screenplay. Alongside Hyde Park and Skydance Sports, Warner Music Group is providing music and creative direction, with plans to feature iconic singles from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Prince, and Curtis Mayfield.

This project holds personal significance for producer Ashok Amritraj, a former Wimbledon professional player. Hyde Park Entertainment has the full endorsement of the Arthur Ashe Estate. Ashok and Priya Amritraj are producing, with Chester Algernal Gordon through Freedom Principle, while executive producers include Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe and Alexandra Dell.

The biopic chronicles Ashe’s rise from humble beginnings on public courts in Richmond, Virginia, to becoming the first Black man to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, reaching No. 1 world ranking. His triumphs occur amid the turbulent civil rights era of the late 1960s, marked by social upheaval, assassinations, and protests. Ashe’s courageous activism against apartheid and efforts to promote freedom in South Africa are central themes.

Director Elegance Bratton, from Jersey City, New Jersey, gained acclaim with The Inspection, which premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and was released by A24. His recent work includes the crime thriller By Any Means starring Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Skydance Sports has produced acclaimed projects like the Emmy-nominated docu-series Good Rivals and the Golden Globe-nominated feature film Air, both available on Prime Video. Their partnerships include collaborations with the NFL, Netflix, ESPN, Hulu, and Apple TV+ on multiple sports-related productions.

With Bratton’s powerful direction and Willmott’s compelling writing, the Arthur Ashe biopic aims to highlight Ashe’s athletic excellence and impactful role in the civil rights movement.