Miles Teller To Play Feted Italian Cyclist Turned WWII Hero Gino Bartali For ‘Free Solo’ Directors; North.Five.Six. & CAA Media Finance Launch For EFM – Deadline
By Andreas Wiseman Executive Editor, International & Strategy
EXCLUSIVE: Top Gun and Whiplash star Miles Teller is set to play feted Italian cyclist turned WWII hero Gino Bartali in the biopic Bartali, which should be a strong proposition for buyers at this week’s EFM in Berlin.
Oscar-winning Free Solo and Nyad filmmakers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin are aboard to direct the feature, which will tell the impressive true story of Bartali, who became a national hero after winning the Tour de France in 1938 but whose career was put on hold for a decade following the outbreak of World War II. In 1948, ten years past his prime, he would attempt to reclaim his title despite years without competitive racing.
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What’s even more remarkable – and came to light only after his death – is that during the war, Bartali joined the underground resistance, cycling across northern Italy to transport counterfeit identity documents, stuffed into the handlebars and seat posts of his bike. The fake IDs helped Jews escape to Switzerland and his efforts are estimated to have saved hundreds of lives. Questioned and threatened as a potential enemy of the state, Bartoli did his best to keep his missions secret from his family in a bid to protect their own safety.
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Producing are Vasarhelyi and Chin’s Little Monster Films, along with producers Leslie Holleran (Chocolat), Karen Tenkhoff (The Motorcycle Diaries) and Teller. Tenkhoff also scripts the project, which we’ve heard good things about from buyers. CAA Media Finance is repping domestic with north.five.six. handling international.
Anna Barnes is executive producer for Little Monster Films and Michael Rothstein, Samuel Hall, and Warren Goz are executive producers for north.five.six.
“The moment we read Karen’s script, we knew this was a film we had to make. It captures everything we love about storytelling – it’s about bravery, about perseverance and, ultimately, about what it means to have moral courage,” said Vasarhelyi and Chin. “With Miles attached to star in the title role, we know this epic tale will leave audiences hopeful, energized and inspired by Gino’s story.”
Miles Teller commented: “I’m so excited to join this incredible project and bring Gino Bartali’s inspiring story to life. He wasn’t just a cycling legend—he was a true hero who risked his own safety to help those who needed it most. Can’t wait for audiences to see the courage and heart behind his journey.”
Vasarhelyi and Chin are represented by CAA and Peter Nichols; Teller by CAA and Goodman Genow.Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters
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