The new film will chart the Arsenal legend's path to football stardom following a traumatic childhood and will be executive produced by the Mel Made Me Do It rapper, with Tom Wilton directing and penning the script.
A synopsis reads: "Ian’s journey begins on the Honor Oak Estate in Brockley, south London, where football is the young boy’s only escape from his tough home life. Schoolteacher Sydney Pigden recognises Ian’s struggles and dares him to believe in who he could be. Despite this spark of hope, by his teens, Ian’s dreams of becoming a footballer are falling apart as rejection, oppression, and his own internal rage take their toll. By the time he is in his early twenties, Ian’s hope has faded, not least because he strives to be the parent he never had. But with his raw talent finally causing a stir, Ian faces a life-altering choice - risk the only security he has ever known, or take one last shot at the big time."
Wright said of the biopic: "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."
A traumatic childhood, an inspiring teacher and a sibling who always looked out for him, Wright's story is a deeply moving tale of heartache, determination and unbelievable triumph.
The story of a Black British boy born to first-generation Caribbean immigrants against a backdrop of a working-class South London community is as relevant today as it was during the 1970s.
Wilton 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."
