Wanderlei Silva's trajectory in MMA will become a film or series

W. Silva (photo) will have his journey told on screen. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @wandfc

One of the pioneers and main names in the history of MMA in Brazil, Wanderlei Silva his life and trajectory will be told on screen. According to information published by UOL Esporte, the biography “Wanderlei Silva Sem Coleira”, published in October last year by journalists Thiago Parijani and Luiz Henrique Gurian, was acquired by Luppi Produtora. The work will become a film or series scheduled for release by June 2022.

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In an interview with UOL Esporte, Luiz Pereira, producer and partner at Lupi Produções/Excelsior Filmes, stated that he already has a partnership in place with a company to produce and release the film in Japan. Luiz also negotiates with streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus for audiences in Brazil, North America and Latin America.

The Japanese market's interest in the history of Wanderlei Silva it's no surprise. The “Crazy Dog” was one of the greatest idols in the Asian country at the time of PRIDE, the biggest MMA event on the continent, of which he was champion. According to Luiz Pereira, the main thread of the story will be Wanderlei's fights against Kazushi Sakuraba, known then as the “Gracies Hunter”, who had already defeated seven Brazilians in the organization.

“The film is interesting to the foreign market because of Sakuraba. And the focus we give, the guiding thread, is Wanderlei's fight with Sakuraba. The first fight he went to, for example, he didn't know who the guy was. And they told him: 'wow, you're f*****g, the guy is a champion here in Japan'. For him (Wanderlei), he had no choice. In his mind, it was anyone. When a guy is imbued with something, has a dream, wants to achieve it, internal strength helps a lot, right? And Wanderlei was one of those, he didn't want to choose, or maybe, at that time, in the beginning, he couldn't choose. Whoever came, he would have to defeat”, explained the producer.

Starting from the victories against Sakuraba, the work will tell the story of Wanderlei Silva until becoming one of the biggest stars in world MMA. Other “Mad Dog” rivalries will also be illustrated, such as against Quinton “Rampage”Jackson, Dan Henderson, Vitor belfort e Chael Sonnen. Wanderlei's personal side will also be illustrated, with passages about his childhood and adolescence in Curitiba, his marriage to his wife Téa and the birth of his children.

“I imagine that my life being told on screen will inspire people and show that a normal person can become an extraordinary person, which is what happened in my life. May others have the opportunity that I had, of discovering a talent, of becoming an icon. I hope it will be a really great work”, said Wanderlei, in a statement to UOL.