Robert Redford starred in one of the most famous fictional baseball movies ever, but now he has agreed to return to the screen to play a real life baseball personality. "The Natural" star will play former Dodgers' general manager Branch Rickey in an upcoming film about Rickey and his relationship with Jackie Robinson, the African American player who famously broke the color barrier in 1947. The role of Robinson has not yet been cast and the production is still untitled. Warner Brothers is planning to co-finance the film, which will be directed and written by Brian Helgeland (LA Confidential, Mystic River). The story will be more about the relationship between Rickey and Robinson and less about the actual integration of Major League Baseball. Rickey is also credited with inventing the concept of a farm system and equipment innovations such as the batting helmet. 
-
Bruce has traveled the world, both working for and covering a wide array of the sports world’s greatest events. Below is a sampling of the level of experience and perspective he brings to ifollosports.com.
OLYMPIC GAMES: Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Salt Lake City 2002, Beijing 2008
*Editor of the Official Report of the 1984 Olympic GamesPAN AMERICAN GAMES: Caracas 1983, Indianapolis 1987, Havana 1991, Mar del Plata 1995, Winnipeg 1999
WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES: Zagreb 1987, Duisberg 1989, Sheffield 1991, Buffalo 1993, Fukuoka 1995, Sicily 1997, Palma de Mallorca 1999
USA TRACK AND FIELD: World Championships (Helsinki 1983), World Junior Championships (Athens 1986), World Cup (Rome 1981), World Cup (Havana 1992), Pan American Junior Championships (Barqisimeto 1982, Orlando 1986) Editor of USATF annual calendar project (1980-1991) and Cross Country handbook (1979-1991)
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009.
ASSOCIATED PRESS Correspondent covering the Los Angeles Lakers and UCLA Bruins basketball, track and field, and swimming 1977-1989
A California native, Bruce is a graduate of UCLA and resides in Venice Beach.
Comments and Replies
I think Robert Redford will do a great job playing Branch Rickey.