IT’S LEWIS: THE MOVIE TV bosses in race for champ’s life story
FORMULA One ace Lewis Hamilton is in talks with TV companies to film a biopic of his life.
The three-time World Champion – just 32 – is said to be keen to give the go-ahead.
It’s believed at least three networks in the US, including Netflix, are interested in the rights to show his rise to becoming one of the greatest -ever racing drivers.
The rags to riches story will record Hamilton’s progress from modest roots in a broken home in Stevenage to amassing a fortune of almost £200million.
His high-profile on-off relationship with the former Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger, inset right, is also likely to feature.
A US source said: “Lewis’ rise to success is deeply compelling and several networks are interested in telling his story.
“It’s early days but it could end up a drama series for Netflix or even a blockbuster film.
“Though he is still young he has accomplished a great deal already and TV big-wigs know it’ll be a big ratings pull not only in the UK but around the world as Formula One is so popular.”
The focus of the film will be on the time before he became famous, as producers believe that’s Showbiz Editor JAMES INGHAM what fans don’t know about. He came from a mixed-race family before his parents split. Later, aged five, he learned karate to protect himself from school bullies. His route to Formula One started aged 12 when he took up the unicycle. His close bond with half-brother Nicolas, who has cerebral palsy, is well known but the documentary could delve deeper in their relationship. Our source said: “Lewis is said to be 100 per cent behind the project and wants it to honour his father Anthony for the hurdles he faced as a black man in the UK. “Lewis is proud of his heritage and history and will only sign a deal once he is sure it reflects this. So long as they find the right script and director, it’s all go.” Hamilton won his first title with McLaren in 2008 before moving to Mercedes, where he won back-toback titles in 2014 and 2015. He has more race victories than any other British driver in the history of Formula One and holds records for the all-time most career points and the most wins at different circuits. Hamilton is also the only driver to have won at least one Grand Prix in every season he has contested.