EXCLUSIVE: A biopic about the life of four-time Paralympic gold medalist Tony Volpentest, titled The Fastest Man In The World, is in the works, with Kelli McNeil-Yellen signed on to write the screenplay and Alexander Yellen to direct.
Production on the film is slated to begin in April 2027 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Based on Volpentest’s memoir of the same name, the film chronicles the life of the quadruple congenital amputee who defied expectations to become one of the most accomplished Paralympic sprinters in history.
At the 1992 Summer Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Volpentest set world records in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events. He went on to win four Paralympic gold medals and one silver while competing across the Barcelona, Atlanta, and Sydney Games.
“What makes Tony’s story so powerful isn’t simply what he accomplished as an athlete; it’s the way he refused to let anyone else define what was possible for him,” said producer Dannie Festa.
“From our first conversations with Kelli and Alex, it was clear that they understood the heart of this film. Their work on Daruma showed an ability to tell a story involving disability with authenticity, humor, and humanity, without ever allowing disability to define the characters. They are the right filmmakers to bring Tony’s story to the screen.”
Dannie Festa, the executive producer of DreamWorks Animation’s franchise Trolls, and Anthony Badalucco are producing the film, with Chuck Cuda, Anthony Biondo, and Jay Jawarski serving as Executive Producers.
McNeil-Yellen wrote and produced the feature Daruma, and Executive Produced by Academy Award winner Peter Farrelly (Green Book). Yellen directed and served as cinematographer on Daruma. He is also known for his work on Syfy’s cult series Z Nation, which ran for five seasons.
