Baseball fans and movie fanatics alike have something to celebrate this Friday with the release of the new film “42.”
Aptly titled after the athlete’s jersey number, the film is based on the true story of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to join Major League Baseball. He became a player for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. In honor of Robinson, the number 42 jersey became the first number ever to become retired in MLB history.
Furthermore, each year on April 15, every MLB player on every MLB team dons the distinctive number in remembrance of Robinson.
“42” boasts an impressive cast including Harrison Ford, Chadwick Boseman, and Christopher Meloni. Newcomer Boseman stars as Robinson in “42,” and while bearing a crooked smile not unlike his character, the actor threw himself headlong into the role.
“He was an inspiration, not just to African-American boys and girls, and he still is,” said the rising star during a press conference.
Brian Helgeland, who has helmed films such as “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and the award-winning “Mystic River,” served as director of “42.”
While searching for the perfect actor to portray Robinson, Helgelend explained that Boseman displayed passionate determination from day one.
“He was the second actor to come in- I didn’t want a really well known actor to play Jackie, that always makes it hard to suspend your disbelief,” noted the director during the press event.
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article courtesy of TheChrisitanPost.com
