Production giant Lionsgate and Man United are reportedly working on a “Crown-style” TV series about one of the world’s most famous soccer clubs.
According to a report in The Athletic, the show is currently in development and will tell stories from down the decades of Man Utd’s storied history.
The Athletic reported that an agreement has been reached, which will see Man United receive a guaranteed sum in the low multi-million pounds in the event the show is produced and sold – which so far it has not been. Future royalties will then be shared between United and Lionsgate, it added. Line of Duty and Bodies creator Jed Mercurio was reported by The Athletic to have had conversations about helming the project.
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The idea is reportedly to create a dynastic-style series for a big streaming platform. Man United have plenty history worth telling from down the years, from the 1958 Munich air disaster, to the 1968 European Cup-winning team under Matt Busby, to Alex Ferguson’s domination of the Premier League era. Since Ferguson’s exit in 2013, fortunes have declined and the latest in an ongoing run of managerial sackings was Ruben Amorim earlier this month, after a disappointing spell in charge.
Shows about soccer clubs are de rigeur at the moment, with the like of Welcome to Wrexham and Ted Lasso proving huge hits for their respective streamers. A24 and Jack Thorne are working on a series about Liverpool FC and its legendary manager Bill Shankly, while Sony and Manchester City struck a content deal that could lead to a “Succession for football,” according to Sony international boss Wayne Garvie.
Last year it was reported that United had been in secret talks with Amazon over a Prime Video series. The show would have followed a similar format to the “All or Nothing” Arsenal and Tottenham shows.
A £10million deal was reportedly reached between United and Amazon, however Jim Ratcliffe declined to green light the project following objections from then-boss Amorim. Club chiefs also held talks with Disney in 2024.
Lionsgate is a giant of the industry and has produced blockbusters including The Hunger Games, Twilight, Dirty Dancing and La La Land.