Vinnie Bennett wants to bring New Zealand skate legend Lee Ralph to the big screen – Spy

Oscar and Emmy Award-winning duo Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe (Two distant strangersHBO's BS high) will direct and executive produce under the banner “The Unreasonable.”

Hern's long list of films includes:Goodbye, pork pie,The dark horse And Shadow in the cloud. He was co-producerThe Pantherswith Finau, who also produced Red, white and brass.

Hern tells Spy he hasn't been this passionate about telling the story of a Kiwi icon since its creationThe dark horsestarring Cliff Curtis as brilliant New Zealand chess player Genesis Potini ten years ago.

“I’ve known Lee for almost 20 years,” says Hern. “He is a dear friend and one of a kind.”

Hern knows that he and Ralph were once in a rock 'n' roll band together, but skate and surf lover Ralph couldn't stop bringing reggae into the mix.

“I had known about Lee's skating exploits and somewhat mythical escapades for years. But it was through researching this project that Nua and I learned about all the other crazy, incredible aspects of his story,” says Hern.

“In addition to theForrest GumpThe story of Lee and his family, like the twists and turns of his life, is touching and inspiring.

“We can’t wait to bring it to the screen.”

Bennett and Castle-Hughes are set to star, with Bennett playing Ralph and Castle-Hughes playing his sister and accomplice Kim.

“We had an early table reading with Vinnie and Keisha, Lee and Kim in Auckland and it was very emotional,” says Hern.

Sky New Zealand Originals head Thomas Robins commissioned the series and told Spy they were delighted to be working with Tavake and the film's cast. “Ralph is an unsung hero whose extraordinary story is as wild as it is touching,” says Robins.

“From an international perspective, you simply couldn’t ask for a better line-up of executive producers than Steve-O, the team at The Unreasnble and the one and only Tony Hawk,” says Robins.

Schedules and filming dates for cast and crew are still being planned.

Next month, Hern travels to Cannes to present the series at MIPCOM CANNES. This event promotes the business of international content rights and the co-production of must-see new series from around the world.

Ricardo Simich is that Herald's Spy Editor. Based in Auckland, he covers all avenues that lead to popular culture.