Who better to tell a tall Texas true tale that is 12 Mighty Orphans, than Lone Star State native Ty Roberts?
The film has landed on Blu-ray, DVD, and various digital formats August 31 and introduces the world to a Depression-era high school football team comprised solely of guys from an orphanage. They came together under a new coach, played by Luke Wilson, and made their way to the coveted state title game.
In the process, their unlikely run inspired a nation that was in dire need of news that landed on the good side of the coin. In fact, President Roosevelt himself followed their progress and frequently used them as an example of how when we unite behind a common cause, there is nothing we as Americans cannot accomplish.
As is the case so often with sports movies, the heart of the narrative of 12 Mighty Orphans lies somewhere else other than on the gridiron. Football is merely the vessel for the motivation and audiences can then take it to heart and utilize its power in overt or subconscious ways.
Roberts Zoomed us and one of my first inquiries centered around that very fact. What was it for the filmmaker that connected him emotively to this particular story? From there, the interview explored the iconic nature of the entity that is the “sports movie” and what it is about them that audiences adore. Our exclusive chat also found him divulging what it was about star Luke Wilson that ticked all those boxes and made him the unwavering choice to tackle the part of the real-life married with young children coach who gave up lucrative opportunities at other schools across the football-crazy state to lead a group of orphans whose destiny was intertwined with his.
Not only did Roberts helm the film, but he also co-wrote the screenplay with Lane Garrison, based on Jim Dent’s book.