ESPN Films to produce movie based on firefighter's role as basketball coach

The Post and Courier

Louis Mulkey

The Louis Mulkey story is headed to the silver screen.

ESPN Films said Friday it is developing a movie based on the inspirational story of Mulkey, one of nine Charleston firefighters killed in the Sofa Super Store fire on June 18, 2007. Mulkey also was a coach at Summerville High School and provided the inspiration for the boys basketball team that won the 2008 Class AAAA state championship.

"Louis would be absolutely humbled and thrilled to know that his life and the relationships he so deeply cherished with his players and his brothers at the fire department would be worthy of so much positive public attention," his widow, Lauren Bennett Mulkey, said in a statement.

"He would want his story to inspire others to believe in something bigger than themselves, and constantly give more than is asked of them."

Mike Tollin will direct and co-produce the movie with ESPN Films. His career highlights include "Radio" and "Coach Carter."

The Academy Award-nominated writing team of Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen Rivele will write the script. They wrote the screenplays for "Ali" and "Nixon."

Tyrone Walker
The Post and Courier

Summerville players celebrate after winning the 2008 Class AAAA boys state basketball championship, fulfilling a dream Louis Mulkey had for the team.

"This is a story that needs to be told because it will emotionally move people," said Ron Semiao, senior vice president for the theatrical motion pictures division of ESPN Films. "This will allow us to go wider and deeper into the life of Louis, his wife Lauren and the basketball players at Summerville High School."

A year ago, ESPN.com published an account of Summerville's memorable season. ESPN's SportsCenter followed with a feature about Mulkey and the team's achievement, which drew national attention. Both will serve as the basis for the script.

The SportsCenter clip showed Mulkey delivering a pre-game speech to his eighth-grade basketball team. He told the players they had the potential to be state champions, and four years later, they won the title.

After its championship victory in Columbia, the team returned home that night and visited Mulkey's grave, where some of the players left the medals they had just won.

"What we'll do is take a 14-minute piece and develop it into a two-hour movie," Semiao said.

Numerous movie producers and companies were interested in the project, including Walt Disney Pictures and 20th Century Fox.

"We're honored that Lauren selected ESPN," Semiao said. "We were able to build a trusting relationship with her, the Charleston firefighters and the Summerville basketball players. We're honored to tell Louis Mulkey's wonderful, inspirational story."

Reach Philip M. Bowman at pbowman@postandcourier.com or at 937-5592. Read his blog at postandcourier.com/prepblog