A new film from Lionsgate, "DRAFT DAY," starring KEVIN COSTNER, JENNIFER GARNER and DENIS LEARY is set for release in the summer of '14. It takes "place over a 12-hour period on the first day of the 2014 NFL Draft" and "follows a general manager as his team attempts to acquire the No. 1 overall pick," according to ESPN's Steve Weissman. The film centers on the Browns, with Costner playing the Browns GM. Costner said, "We're trying to make it authentic and Cleveland has a real story." Garner, who plays the team's salary cap guru, said that is "part of what works for our storyline that Cleveland has struggled a bit in the past and they're rebuilding their team right now." The film's director, IVAN REITMAN, said, "What's really interesting is how important the Cleveland Browns are to the city of Cleveland, despite their sort of repeated failure. I think it almost makes them more special that every draft day is a new opportunity." Reitman added the NFL Draft is a "fascinating experience and most people think of it as that show on television once a year. But really that's just a surface product. Really what's going on in the Draft is everything in war rooms -- 32 of them -- across the country." Leary said, "We spent a lot of time and a lot of detail and a lot of work on the football scenes" ("NFL Live," ESPN2, 7/19).
REALITY BITES: In Denver, Mike Klis noted for Broncos WR ERIC DECKER, fame's "intensity figures to magnify exponentially once his reality TV show airs in late summer." Fans will be "interested in Decker enough to watch 'ERIC & JESSIE: GAME ON,' the working title for the TV show" on E! (DENVER POST, 7/21)....In Houston, Craig Hlavaty noted Texans DE J.J. WATT "found time to visit the set of FX's 'THE LEAGUE' and film a bit for the upcoming fifth season of the raunchy cable TV show" (CHRON.com, 7/17)....In Tampa, Marc Topkin noted Rays 2B BEN ZOBRIST is "writing a book." Zobrist, his wife JULIANNA and author MIKE YORKEY are "teaming up for 'DOUBLE PLAY,' a sort of co-autobiography, which will be out in April." The project was announced by B&H Publishing Group (TAMPABAY.com, 7/20)....In Boston, Michael Vega noted reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion BRAD KESELOWSKI on Thursday appeared as himself on TBS' "SULLIVAN & SON," in an episode in which he "gets into a fender bender with another character after he’s unable to successfully parallel park his car outside the family bar" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/21).
