A Dennis Rodman documentary film that was put on hold after its director, Penny Marshall, died could still be released this year.
The basketball great didn’t trust anyone except Marshall to tell his life story, according to IMDB. One of the film’s producers and Marshall’s son-in-law, Matthew Conlan, is working to get the film out by its Sept. 1 release date, according to Page Six. The movie is titled “Rodman.”
The production team recorded hundred of hours of interviews with people who knew Rodman, including Jay Leno, Phil Jackson, Isiah Thomas, President Donald Trump, and more. The film has been in production for about six years.
“She wanted people to know who Dennis Rodman really was. But then, at a certain point, they couldn’t pay us anymore. So they put the movie on hold.”
In addition to funds drying up, Marshall’s brother died in 2016. And her best friend, Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher, also died that year, according to Page Six.
Another of the film’s producers and its former director, Russell LaFreniere, spoke of Marshall’s affection for Rodman, via Page Six.
“I think she saw a little of herself in Dennis—she’d been through difficult times, too. She really cared about him. And once she came onto the movie, it opened doors. She could call Mark Cuban and he’d come over for an interview—that wasn’t something I could do.”
22 years ago @dennisrodman and @shaq were almost got into a fight!
I don’t know what was more exciting:
– Jordan and Pippen’s WWE move on Rodman
Or
– The Wall Street Guy who went nuts and caught on TV camera pic.twitter.com/NLzz2U1ykp
— OLDSKOOLBBALL (@Oldskoolbball1) December 18, 2018
Marshall died on Dec. 17 from a heart failure due to heart disease and diabetes. She was 75. Even on the day she died she was trying to get the film ready, according to Page Six and The Hollywood Reporter.
“She phoned that morning,” Conlan told The Hollywood Reporter. “She said, ‘What are we doing with ‘Rodman’? We’ve got work to do!’ ”
“So Dennis is looking forward to his ESPN 30 for 30 documentary coming out in June then hopes Penny Marshall’s footage she and her team accumulated over the past 7 years can be made into a film,” Rodman’s rep told Page Six in a statement. “We know she did over 130 interviews and several subjects are no longer with us. Her magic touch was on it so we’d love to see it come to the big screen as much as a way to pay respect to her being the best at what she did and have it win some posthumous awards for her legacy.”
Marshall became friends with Rodman during the 1990s while he played for the Chicago Bulls. Marshall, a director and actress, hadn’t directed a theatrical movie since 2001’s “Riding in Cars With Boys.” The documentary was already in progress when Rodman asked her to take over, in 2012, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
R.I.P. to my good friend Penny Marshall. An Icon to the world but a good friend to me. #Icon #Legend #Friendship pic.twitter.com/1vRW6mbCcx
— Dennis Rodman (@dennisrodman) December 18, 2018
Marshall directed notable films like “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Big,” and “A League of Their Own,” according to IMDB. She was also known for her acting, playing Laverne DeFazio on TV show “Laverne and Shirley.” Her acting credits extend from 1953 all the way until 2016.
On the day after she died, Rodman tweeted: “R.I.P. to my good friend Penny Marshall. An Icon to the world but a good friend to me. #Icon #Legend #Friendship”
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