USA Network has tapped This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia to play daredevil Evel Knievel in Evel. The just-announced limited series will shoot in 2020, but USA Network hasn’t confirmed when they expect Evel to premiere.
“USA Network is known for big event series that celebrate heroes, rebels, and icons, and what could be bigger than the story of one of the greatest thrill-seekers of all time?” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks – USA Network and SYFY. “The incredible life and journey of Evel Knievel lends itself to a dramatic retelling, and we are excited to be partnering with Milo, McG, UCP, Atlas and Wonderland to bring this iconic American tale to our viewers.”
Etan Frankel (Sorry For Your Loss, Shameless, Animal Kingdom) is on board to write and serve as an executive producer. McG, Mary Viola, and Steven Bello of Wonderland Sound & Vision; Alex Gartner, Charles Roven and Topher Rhys-Lawrence of Atlas Entertainment; and Ventimiglia are also executive producing.
In addition to his starring role as Jack Pearson in NBC’s This Is Us, Milo Ventimiglia’s recent credits include The Art of Racing in the Rain. In that tearjerker, Ventimiglia starred as race car driver Denny Swift opposite Amanda Seyfriend and a scene-stealing canine named Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner). Ventimiglia also starred in the feature films Second Act, Wild Card, Grace of Monaco, Grown Ups 2, and Killing Season.
The Evel Plot:
“USA Network has ordered the Milo Ventimiglia-led limited series Evel, which is based on the story of larger-than-life 70’s daredevil Evel Knievel as he prepares for his greatest death-defying feat, the historic Snake River Canyon jump. Evel is an exhilarating portrait of a complex man living the American dream, juggling meteoric celebrity and raising a family — and facing the very real probability that his next jump will kill him.”
