De Niro in Talks to Star as Baseball Icon Tommy Lasorda in Upcoming Sports Drama
Robert De Niro is in negotiations to play the late Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda in a film titled 'Tommy & Me'. Reid Carolin, who directed 'Dog', is set to direct for Skydance Sports. The script is being written by Carolin, George Gallo, and Cambron Clark.
Lasorda's seven-decade association with the Dodgers organization spanned roles from minor-league pitcher to major-league manager, including a two-season playing stint with the Brooklyn club in the mid-1950s. After his playing career ended with Kansas City, he returned to the Dodgers as a scout, coach, and eventually manager from 1976 through 1996, a tenure that made him one of baseball's most recognizable figures.
De Niro, a two-time Oscar winner known for dramatic roles in Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Irishman, has a busy schedule ahead. He is set to appear in the comedy Focker-in-Law alongside Ben Stiller and Ariana Grande, releasing in November. The project marks another sports-adjacent role for the veteran actor, following his extensive dramatic filmography.
This casting news could appeal to both baseball enthusiasts and film audiences, potentially bridging generational gaps between fans who remember Lasorda's fiery managing style and younger viewers discovering his legacy. The project may also reinforce the growing trend of sports biopics as reliable theatrical draws, while giving De Niro another high-profile role that could generate awards-season conversation. Skydance Sports' involvement suggests continued investment in sports-themed storytelling, which could influence what similar projects get greenlit in the coming years.