Carmelo Anthony to Produce Roberto Clemente Biopic

Basketball superstar Carmelo Anthony has turned his sights to another sport: baseball. But don’t fret, the Denver Nuggets small forward won’t be ditching the court anytime soon. Instead, he’s set to produce a biopic about the legendary Roberto Clemente, Major League Baseball’s first Hispanic star player. The film will take us through his upbringing in Carolina, Puerto Rico, his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973 after he died in a plane crash at the age of 38.

Anthony, who is half Puerto Rican himself, and his Krossover Productions partners (which includes fiancée Alani “La La” Vazquez) will have unprecedented access and work closely with Clemente’s family to bring the story to life. In fact, his sons Roberto Jr., Luis Roberto and Enrique Roberto will serve as producers as well. “He was a man who loved his sport, loved his people and was committed to showing the world that he could carry the weight of the title ‘hero,’” Anthony said.

Clemente’s plane crashed on Dec. 31, 1972 en route to Nicaragua to deliver aid to earthquake victims. “We are all here to accomplish certain things in life so that others may learn and build on the foundation that we have laid before them,” Anthony added. “I just wanted the opportunity for Clemente’s story to continue building in the lives of others.”