Tony Hawk and Steve-O produce the Sk8 or Die skateboard series

Skateboard legend Tony Hawk and Donkey Star Steve-O is on board Sk8 or Die: The Lee Ralph Storya new scripted series following the life of the New Zealand skateboarder who reached the sport's peak in the 1980s before suddenly disappearing from the scene. The show, currently in active development, is designed as a biographical anthology series similar to Ryan Murphy's Monsterwhich explores the life of a different skating legend each new season.

The Auckland-based company Tavake will produce Sk8 or die with Hawk and Steve-O as executive producers. Vinnie Bennett, who played Young Dom Q9Lee will play Ralph, with Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale rider, FBI: Most Wanted) as Lee's sister and lifelong accomplice, Kim Ralph.

The series follows Lee's childhood in New Zealand, where he grew up as the son of a heroin-dealing father and became a professional figure skater in the late 1980s, often skating barefoot. At the height of his fame, as one of the sport's top stars, he suddenly dropped out.

“Lee Ralph was a truly unique character, and that says a lot about the diverse world of skateboarding,” Hawk said in a statement. “His skating was powerful and smooth, while his looks and attitude were unashamedly dirty. But he always had a smile on his face and we were always excited to see him.”

Sky New Zealand Originals has commissioned the series, co-written by Tavake leads Tom Hern and Halaifonua (Nua) Finau, who will also serve as showrunners, with Hern directing select episodes alongside Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe will lead (Two distant strangersHBO's BS high). Free and Roe will also serve as executive producers. Julian Arahanga will serve as lead producer.

“I have known Lee for almost 20 years. He is a dear friend and one of a kind,” says Hern. “For years I've always known about his ice skating exploits and somewhat mythical escapades, but it wasn't until researching this project that Nua and I learned about all the other crazy, incredible aspects of his story. In addition to the Forrest GumpThe story of Lee and his family recalls the twists and turns of his life and is very touching and inspiring. We can’t wait to bring it to the screen.”

Tavake is best known for his sex work dramedy series Womanwith Rachel Griffiths and Martin Henderson, which won the award for best creation at this year's Monte-Carlo television festival. The series is distributed worldwide by Fifth Season. Tavake will go shopping Sk8 or die to potential co-producers and financing partners at the Mipcom international television market in Cannes later this month.

Tom Hern and Nua Finau are represented by Kaplan and Perrone; Martin Desmond Roe is partner and co-founder of Dirty Robber and is represented by WME and 3Arts. Travon Free is repped by AGI Entertainment Media & Management; Vinnie Bennett is repped by Johnson & Laird Management and Anonymous Content; Keisha Castle-Hughes is repped by Johnson & Laird Management, Innovative Artists & Industry Entertainment; Steve-O is represented by attorney Jeff Bernstein and Empirical.