‘Taken’ & ‘Vikings’ Star Clive Standen Playing WWII Vet Turned Revered Texas Football Coach In ‘The Colonel’

The Story

EXCLUSIVE: Production is underway on The Colonel, a feature inspired by the true story of celebrated Fort Worth, Texas, football coach, Lieutenant Colonel R.C. “Rocky” Rosacker.

Taken and Vikings star Clive Standen is set to play the coach known by his students as ‘The Colonel’. Standen takes over from Neal McDonough in the lead role with the former exiting the project some time ago for undisclosed reasons.

Kelly Frye (Criminal Minds) will play the film’s female lead with supporting cast including Sam Huntsman, and Peter Gerety.

Written, directed and produced by one of the coach’s former students and players, Tim Williams, the film will chronicle the lasting impact of the mentor whose influence extended beyond the football field, shaping the surrounding community.

Rosacker was a decorated Marine officer forced into early retirement. In 1969, at the height of the Vietnam War, a struggling Texas prep school on the brink of closure turns to the tough-as-nails Marine to restore order among its rebellious students. Through uncompromising discipline, accountability, and earned leadership, he transforms the school’s future and the lives of many students. Rosacker oversaw multiple state championships and a surge in enrollment. The school’s football stadium was named Rosacker Field in his honor in 1988.Filming is currently taking place in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Standen is best known for his starring roles in Vikings, NBC’s TV series Taken, and most recently Walking with Dinosaurs.

Original report

Deadline

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