ESPN yesterday announced that its next slate of "30 for 30" documentary film series will begin on Oct. 1. Film topics include the story of Hawaiian surfer Eddie Aikau; John Spano's Islanders scandal; Jimmy Connors' '91 U.S. Open run; and a look at the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding rivalry that resulted in the now-infamous attack (
ESPN).
ESPN Films VP & Exec Producer Connor Schell said of the series, "We don't really chase stories (anymore)." He added, "It's a platform where we're going to be fair to the subject matter." Schell acknowledged that he and his team "have yet to convince Kerrigan to sit for the planned November doc, aptly titled Tonya and Nancy." The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Lacey Rose reported ESPN's team has "interviewed several close to Kerrigan and are still hopeful that she'll agree to participate in the way Harding has" (
HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/24). The AP's Beth Harris noted the series includes a film "about the Spirits of St. Louis basketball team" that played in the ABA and a film "about the rivalry between boxers Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran." Actor Kevin Connolly "directs and narrates" the film about Spanos (
AP, 7/24).
| FALL SLATE OF ESPN "30 FOR 30" FILMS |
| AIR DATE | FILM |
| 10/1 | "Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau" |
| 10/8 | "Free Spirits" |
| 10/15 | "No Mas" |
| 10/22 | "Big Shot" |
| 10/29 | "This Is What They Want" |
| 11/5 | "Tonya and Nancy" |
