Pele: Soccer’s Greatest Player's Upcoming Biopic
One of the most internationally recognized and respected athlete, Edson Arantes do Nascimento or better known as Pele is regarded by his peers, fans and football critics as the best player of all time. Known as as the most successful league goal scorer in the world, Pele inspired award-winning director Brian Grazer to make a biopic out of his amazing football career.
Now a retired Brazilian footballer, Pele was voted Football Player of the Century in 1999 by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). The 72-year former football superstar has a total of 1281 goals in his 1363 games, and dedicated his 1,000th goal to all the poor children in Brazil.
The principal photography of Pele biopic has already started on September 30 in Brazil where a mix bag of nationalities are casted. Brazilians Leonardo Lima Carvalho and Kevin de Paula will play respectively as the young Pele, Brazilian singer "Seu Jorge" (Jorge Mario da Silva) will play Pele's father who taught him how to play the games and the pushed him to greatness.
Other cast includes Vincent D'Onofrio (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) will play as Feola, Brazil's World Cup coach; Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages) will star as Jose, Pele's archrival who reportedly gave Pele his nickname when they were children and Colm meaney (Hell on Wheels) will play as George Raynor, the British coach of the Swedish World Cup team.
Supporting cast includes Felipe Simas, Rafael Henrique, Marcus Vinicius, Julio Levy, Marianna Nunes, Milton Goncales, Thelmo Fernandes (Elite Squad), Charles Myara, Jerome Franz, Rafael Henrique, Marcus Vinicius and Roger Haag. The highly talented cast are now busy shooting the film and its a perect time for Pele's biopic for next year's World Cup in Brazil.
Born in a poor family, Pele is the oldest of the two siblings and was named after the American inventor Thomas Edison. There is no record where the name Pele originated, apart from the assertion that the name is derived from a hebrew word Bile, meaning miracle.
Now Pele is a worldwide ambassador for football since his retirement in 1977, and has taken various acting roles and commercial ventures. He was named as Honorary President on the New York Cosmos in August 2010.