Variety informs us that Christopher Meloni is in negotiations with Legendary Pictures to join Brian Helegeland‘s 42, a baseball drama/biopic that centers on Jackie Robinson. Harrison Ford is already signed on to play Branch Rickey — the Brooklyn Dodgers general manager who brought Robinson into the big leagues in 1947 — while Chadwick Boseman will star as the iconic athlete. Meloni has snagged the part of Leo Durocher, the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers who famously defended the hiring of Robinson, telling his players the following:
I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a f*ckin’ zebra. I’m the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What’s more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded.
Durocher would be suspended soon after (for unrelated reasons), and only lasted part of the 1948 season with the Dodgers before leaving to manage the New York Giants. Meloni‘s part may not be all that substantial — but, provided they take that quote almost verbatim, he should definitely leave his mark; I get goosebumps thinking about it. I’m also becoming soft in my old age.
Are you happy to see Meloni get more film roles?