EXCLUSIVE: Sports drama Stephan James and JK Simmons from Eros STX National Champions expands its thespian team roster with Uzo Aduba, Alexander Ludwig, Andrew Bachelor, David Koechner, Tim Blake Nelson and Timothy Olyphant.

Based on the play of the same name by Adam Mervis which he also adapts, National Champions explores the great business of varsity sport and tells the story of a star quarterback (James) triggers a player’s strike 72 hours before the biggest game of the year to fight for fair compensation, the equality and respect for athletes who bring their bodies and health online for their schools.

Aduba will play Katherine, the outside NCAA lawyer in the feature film directed by Ric Roman Waugh. Ludwig will play Emmett, a tight end who teams up with the character of James as they fight for fair compensation from college athletes days before the biggest game of the year. Bachelor will play Taylor, one of the boosters for the college football team. Koechner will play Everly, one of the conference leaders. Nelson will play Rodger, the wild and funny car dealer who heads the team’s encore club. Olyphant will play Elliott, a college hipster teacher.

Pic, which turns cameras this month in New Orleans, is produced by Basil Iwanyk and Brendon Boyea of ​​Thunder Road and Greg Economou of game1. Jonathan Fuhrman of Thunder Road, Matthew Helderman and Luke Taylor of Bondit Media Capital, Christian Mercuri of The Capstone Group, Michael Smith and Mervis are the executive producers.

National Champions is fully funded by BondIt Media Capital and The Capstone Group. CAA Media Finance Group and Range Media Partners negotiated the deal.

“Our filmmakers bring together a truly remarkable cast of engaging and talented actors for this film,” said Adam Fogelson, president of the STXfilms Motion Picture Group. “National Champions is a compelling and timely story that plays out on many levels and with this exceptional cast and our talented team of filmmakers, we are confident that we have a winning team in place on this film.”

Three-time Emmy winner Aduba stars in HBO’s fourth season Processing, which will focus around her character, Dr. Brooke Lawrence. She will also star alongside Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Helen Mirren and four other outstanding actors in the new anthology series from Amazon Studios. Solos. Aduba also recently signed a multi-year production contract with CBS Studios, where she is expected to star and executive produce. Netherlands. She is represented by UTA, Management 360 and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham.

Ludwig has landed a worldwide recording contract with BBR Music Group / BMG and has announced his eponymous country debut EP which will be released on May 21. Upcoming, he will star opposite Stephen Amell in the wrestling drama. Heels, which premieres August 15 on Starz. Ludwig also finished production on the Ivy League rowing drama. To balance opposite Michael Shannon and Charles Melton. This follows his role in Bad boys for life alongside Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Ludwig is replaced by Untitled Entertainment and UTA.

Bachelor will rework with Waugh after starring for the director in Greenland. He recently started opposite Ed Helms and Taraji P. Henson in the Netflix movie Coffee and kareem and can then be seen in Deon Taylor’s The House next and Do not be afraid. He is represented by UTA, Bach Enterprises and Hansen Jacobson Teller Hoberman.

Anchorman franchise star, The Goldbergs and SNL Alum Koechner will next appear as the host of A & E’s Season 2 America’s Top Dog. He is represented by UTA and Hansen Jacobson Teller Hoberman.

Nelson’s upcoming projects include roles in feature Old Henry and the Netflix TV series Lost Ollie. He will also play a role in Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Pinocchio. He is represented by UTA, Gateway Management and Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal Laviolette & Feldman.

Two-time Primetime Emmy Dead wood and Justified nominee Olyphant to star next to star against Melissa McCarthy in The Starling and in the upcoming David O. Russell film. He is represented by UTA.