Clarkston's Fugees get movie deal

How do you say "Bad News Bears" in Lingala, Swahili, Bosnian, Arabic and Dinka?

On Sunday morning, when they were featured in a gripping New York Times front page story, Clarkston's Fugees youth soccer team didn't even have a place to play.

This afternoon, it appears that not only are the Fugees getting a field, but they're also getting a major motion picture.


Universal buys soccer story
Variety Exclusive: Studio ponies up $3 million
By MICHAEL FLEMING, DAVE MCNARY

Universal Pictures has netted rights to make a movie about youth soccer club the Fugees, an international team comprised of refugees who settled in Clarkston, Ga.

The studio has paid $2 million against $3 million for the rights to an article in last Sunday's New York Times by Warren St. John, who'll turn his article into a book that's part of the rights package.

Also included are life rights to the team's head coach, Luma Mufleh. Stuber/Parent's Scott Stuber and Mary Parent will pro-duce with Kennedy/Marshall's Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall. Tom Lassally will be exec producer.


And:

. . .U has also agreed to pay $500,000 beyond its deal price to build a soccer field for the kids.


I hope the kids and their families will get some money.

(Thank you, Barbara, for bringing the Variety story to my attention).

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