Manchester United are reportedly advancing in talks with a production company over making a TV dramatisation of the club, and it could even end up similar to popular show The Crown
General View prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are reportedly in talks with a production company over creating a TV drama(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Manchester United have reportedly agreed a surprising deal that will see a version of the club’s history made into a TV drama.
The Athletic report that the production – under the control of Lionsgate – remains at a developmental phase. But it will be similar in style to Netflix drama The Crown, which is a dramatised series focusing on the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
The agreement would see United receive a multi-million-pound guaranteed sum if the show is made and then sold to a streaming service. Royalties will then be shared between the club and Lionsgate.
The American production company is known for major film franchises including Twilight, The Hunger Games and John Wick. It has also produced numerous sports-based films, including Warrior and Draft Day.
Writer, director and lifelong United fan Jed Mercurio, who is known for his work on series such as Line of Duty, has been included in talks. Discussions over a potential series could document any time of the history of the club, including the 1958 Munich Air Disaster and the subsequent rebuilding of the team, to the years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates with the Premier League trophy.
A potential series could cover the Sir Alex Ferguson years at Manchester United. (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.)
View 2 Images
The development of reported talks comes after United reportedly withdrew from negotiations over an access-all-areas documentary with Amazon Prime, which would have followed the club through the current campaign.
The series would have been similar to those already done by sides including Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Sunderland.
United, however, pulled out of talks following defeat in the Europa League final back in May, with then-head coach Ruben Amorim’s concerns about potential intrusion cited as one of the reasons.
Amorim was sacked earlier this month after an explosive press conference following the 1-1 draw with Leeds United, where he hinted at his dissatisfaction with a lack of complete control at the club.
He has since been replaced by Michael Carrick, who has taken the role on an interim basis until the end of the season.
Carrick's spell at the helm started off in ideal fashion with a 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.
United have also been in previous talks with Disney+ over a deal that would see a documentary series that looked back on Alex Ferguson’s time at the club. But a deal between all the parties was never struck.