In a recent appearance on the Connectcast podcast, Rorion Gracie, the co-creator of the UFC, revealed that ESPN is currently fiming a documentary about the legendary Gracie family and their revolutionary impact on martial arts.
During the extensive interview, the 73-year-old martial arts pioneer disclosed that the sports media giant has already begun the production process.
“ESPN, in a coincidence, it’s been filming a while today documentary. Today, today, today, now already they interviewed me, they interviewed people of the Gracie family, is what this story tells history, this saga of the Gracie family…”
Rorion emphasized the extraordinary nature of the Gracie family story, describing it as almost too incredible for fiction.
“One brother, two brothers began, they had children, they taught their children, that passed to children, they built a dynasty of competitors and they took a match to the rest of the world learned. that today I dare to say that if it is not the most practiced match of planet is among the most,”
he explained.
The documentary appears to focus on the saga of the Gracie family, tracing their journey from Brazil to global prominence.
“This piece is a piece a lot, this has a absurd storytelling. Exactly. This piece It’s not because it’s my life, you know? But is because, cinematically speaking, it is a piece that really connects Brazil with the rest of the world, expands to the world whole.”
The ESPN documentary isn’t the only project capturing the Gracie story. Rorion revealed that several companies have approached him about telling this remarkable tale.
“There are several companies who came to me for this and such. He knows what to do.”
Additionally, Rorion is working on his autobiography, which he believes will provide essential source material for future film adaptations. Following advice from acclaimed filmmaker John Milius, director of “Conan the Barbarian,” Rorion is ensuring his book is completed before any major film production begins.
ESPN announced that docu series in 2023. Official description: ESPN Films today announced “Gracie,” a multi-part documentary series about the legendary family fighting dynasty that brought Mixed Martial Arts from the streets of Brazil to the world stage. Told through the eyes of key Gracie family members, the series will dive deep into an epic family saga that takes audiences from Scotland and Japan, to Brazil and America.
Mixed Martial Arts has experienced a global explosion in recent years, replacing boxing as the dominant combat sport and rapidly ascending to have one of the largest audiences in the world. At the core of this popular revolution is the art of Jiu-Jitsu and the “first family” of fighting: the Gracies.
Featuring larger-than-life personalities, triumphs and tragedies, deep loyalties, passionate loves and deadly feuds, “Gracie” will explore the essence of family, honor, legacy, and humanity’s innate desire to fight.
The series is directed by Chris Fuller (“Loren Cass”) and is executive produced by ESPN Films. The project is being produced by Solaris Entertainment. Gregory O’Connor (“Warrior,” “Miracle”), Academy Award nominee Nanette Burstein (“On The Ropes,” “Hillary”), Guy Ritchie (“Snatch,” “Sherlock Holmes”) and Ivan Atkinson (“Wrath of Man,” “The Gentlemen”) are serving as executive producers along with Micah Green, Daniel Steinman and Trevor Groth of 30WEST.
