One of the greatest mysteries in sports is coming to life on the big screen thanks to Ice Cube’s Cube Vision films & O’Shea Jackson.
The story of Dock Ellis is coming to the big screen with O’Shea Jackson, Jr. (Straight Outta Compton) attached to star in the title role of Dock. David Permut, Jeff Kwatinetz and Ice Cube are producing from a script by Joey Poach. They are out to directors now.
Dock is the first project to come from Cube Vision’s strategic partnership with AID Partners, a media investment company founded by Hong Kong entrepreneur Kelvin Wu that calls for Cube Vision to develop its own slate, hire its own screenwriters and then bring fully developed projects to studios.
The role of Dock Ellis is also a meaty one to play for Jackson Jr. The ball player was a colorful character — a highly competitive loudmouth who suffered no fools and called out racism when he experienced it.
Dock Ellis was a 12-year MLB pitcher with the Pirates, Yankees, Athletics, Rangers and Mets, however he’s best known for one game in-particular forty-seven years ago:
At the time, no one knew what Ellis had done; but once reporters found out he’d actually pitched an entire MLB NO-HITTER under the influence of LSD around ten years after the performance; they couldn’t bring themselves to believe it. As a result, the story has lived in Baseball lore; & with the help of Ice Cube, will be sure to spark many fresh takes on the subject when it comes back to the forefront with this film.
Turns out Ellis’ performance wasn’t all that rare.rare He admitted, after his playing days, that he’d NEVER pitched a game sober. Soon after he retired, he began seeking treatment for alcohol & drug dependency & began counseling pro athletes with his same struggles.
Sadly, Ellis died in 2008 from liver disease, but with his legendary feats being re-told by Cube, surely in a way only Cube can; his family will get to bask in his story once again.