Hockey fans are about to get perhaps the grittiest take on their sport yet. According to Deadline, Rob Zombie (yes, I’m shocked too) will be writing, directing and producing a film titled Broad Street Bullies, which will be all about the 1970’s Philadelphia Flyers hockey team, known for their rough and tumble road to victory.
The Flyers were known for their extreme physical play during games, so much so when they played the Soviet Union’s “invincible and tough” Red Army team, the Flyers slaughtered them so badly that the “russian team left the ice in the first period, and only returned when told they would not get paid if they didn’t play.” The Flyers went on to win the game 4-1, with head coach Fred Shero declaring, “Yes we are world champions. If they had won, they would have been world champions. We beat the hell out of a machine.”
Apparently, Zombie obtained the rights to the team’s story and is backed 100% by the Flyers organization. The project has been described as “Rocky meets Boogie Nights on ice” — dear God. He said the following about the project, “Each character involved is more outrageous than the next. The backdrop of the turbulent year of 1974 is perfect for this ‘stranger than fiction’ sports tale.” HBO recently did a documentary on the Flyers, of which was also titled Broad Street Bullies.
Although I’m still having a hard time envisioning a hockey-centered Rob Zombie movie, former Flyers senior vice president Bobby Clarke is ecstatic about the project stating, “The great Rob Zombie making a drama feature film about the Broad Street Bullies is exciting and thrilling for us! I look forward to seeing it.” I can only assume we’ll be seeing a lot of red on the ice with this one.
Are you a Flyers fan? If so, what do you think of Zombie directing Broad Street Bullies?