EXCLUSIVE: Darin Brooks (Blue Mountain State), Fivel Stewart (The Recruit), Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie), Justin Chatwin (Shameless) and Antwon Tanner (One Tree Hill) will lead The Roaring Game, a sports comedy from Producer Chad A. Verdi and his East Coast production company Verdi Productions (Bleed For This).
The screenplay by Tom DeNucci (Vault) follows Rickey, a high school custodian whose world is rocked when his girlfriend, Kelly, is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games, thus leaving him behind. Determined to win her back, he assembles a misfit curling team, leveraging his janitorial skills to compete for gold. Below is a first-look.
DeNucci is also directing. Chad A. Verdi (The Irishman) is producing, along with Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba and Anthony Gudas. Sera Verdi is serving as an executive producer and Ed Brady is serving as an associate producer. Filming recently wrapped on the East Coast.
Additional cast includes John Fiore (Sopranos), Paul Johansson (One Tree Hill), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), Brett Azar (Young Rock), Jonathan Stoddard (Til Death) and Rob Goon (A Day to Die).
“We have assembled an elite team of comedic all-stars to bring this project to life. We are thrilled for audiences to see Rickey and the gang compete for the gold in the World Games next winter,” Verdi stated.
DeNucci added: “With so much negativity in the world, I really wanted to tell a story that embraces the lighter side of life. Directing my first comedy has been all about providing an escape and creating a space where audiences can just have a good time. We’ve had so many laughs on set. I can’t wait to share them with the world.”
Recent projects released by Verdi Productions include Chosen Family, starring Heather Graham and Julia Stiles; Junction, starring Bryan Greenberg, Griffin Dunne and Sophia Bush; and Knockout Blonde, the documentary about transgender boxing manager Kellie Maloney.
The Roaring Game (credit Verdi Productions)
The Roaring Game (credit: Verdi Productions)