Toronto’s Aircraft Pictures, in association with U.S.-based Dolphin Entertainment, plans to produce an upcoming homegrown feature adaptation of the 1986 American film Youngblood.

Canadian filmmaker Charles Officer (The Porter; pictured), who co-wrote the script alongside Eadweard‘s Josh Epstein and Kyle Rideout, and Coroner‘s Seneca Aaron, is set to direct the film. Youngblood will be produced by Anthony Leo and Andrew Rosen of Aircraft Pictures, with Jake Yanowski serving as coproducer.

Bill O’Dowd and Emerson Davis of Dolphin Entertainment will serve as executive producers, alongside Mark Slone and Zanne Devine of Toronto-based Photon Films. The film is slated to start production early next year and is intended for theatrical release. It will be distributed in Canada by Photon Films and produced in association with Dolphin Entertainment.

The sports drama will be made with financial support from Telefilm Canada and its Talent Fund, Ontario Creates, and the Shaw Rocket Fund. Principal photography is set to take place in early 2023.

Youngblood, which is based on the MGM film starring Keanu Reeves (The Matrix), Rob Lowe (9-1-1: Lone Star), and Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing), follows an African-American hockey player who joins an Ontario Hockey League team to prepare himself to get drafted into the National Hockey League.

Officer (Akilla’s Escape, Coroner) is the founder and creative director of Toronto’s Canesugar Filmworks. The Toronto-based filmmaker was a professional hockey player for the Calgary Flames before becoming a director.

Leo, co-founder and co-president of Aircraft Pictures, said in a statement that a lot has changed in the world since Youngblood first premiered 30 years ago, adding that “with a visionary director like Charles, and with support from our financial partners and Dolphin Entertainment, this adaptation couldn’t be in better hands.”

Aircraft Pictures recently expanded its executive team, following a majority investment from Corus Entertainment in February.

Epstein and Rideout are represented by Echo Lake Entertainment, the Jennifer Hollyer Agency and Michael Schenkman at Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher. Aaron is represented by Harrison Artists Management, and Officer is represented by GGA and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Photo taken by Emma McIntyre