Glen Powell cast as Lou Gehrig in Richard Linklater biopic

Actor Glen Powell will portray New York Yankees baseball legend Lou Gehrig in a new biographical drama directed by Richard Linklater, according to an announcement on July 22, 2026. Universal Pictures is the studio behind the untitled project, which marks the fifth collaboration between the filmmaker and the actor.

The screenplay will be written by Simon Rich, with production led by "Saturday Night Live" creator and lifelong Yankees fan Lorne Michaels. Erin David will produce through Broadway Video, while Powell and Dan Cohen will produce through Barnstorm. Linklater is also expected to produce. Universal has not yet announced a production start date, release date, or official title for the film.

Gehrig, a Hall of Famer nicknamed "The Iron Horse," played his entire 17-season career for the Yankees, beginning in 1923. He was renowned for his durability, setting a then-record of 2,130 consecutive games played. His accomplishments included two American League Most Valuable Player awards, seven All-Star selections, a Triple Crown, and six World Series championships.

His career was abruptly cut short in 1939 when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive...