BROOKLYN, N.Y. – FilmRise, a leading film and television studio and streaming network worldwide, along with the national nonprofit Merging Vets & Players (MVP) and the GNC Live Well Foundation, affiliated with leading global health and wellness brand GNC, have joined forces to bring MVP, directed by and starring U.S. Army Green Beret veteran and former Seattle Seahawk Nate Boyer, to screens across the U.S.

The movie, which is inspired by actual events, is executive produced by Sylvester Stallone and co-stars Mo McCrae (The Flight Attendant, The First Purge), Talia Jackson (Family Reunion), Christina Ochoa (Animal Kingdom) andDina Shihabi (Altered Carbon, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) and features Tom Arnold, Rich Eisen, Vietnam veteran Dan Lauria, and former professional athletes Randy Couture, Tony Gonzalez, Howie Long, Jarrod Bunch and Michael Strahan.  

MVP will premiere on September 14 in 35 cities – including every NFL market – with a special Theatrical on Demand event to kick off the in-theater fundraising campaign. The campaign encourages U.S. audiences to sign up to host a screening of MVP in their community and raise money for the organization, Merging Vets and Players. Additional screenings will take place throughout fall 2022 at major and independent theaters all around the country, many of which will feature personal appearances by Nate Boyer with special guests including NFL players and local veterans. The GNC Live Well Foundation is the national sponsor of the theatrical campaign and will support the film throughout the 2022-23 NFL season.

MVP is based on the true story of the formation of Merging Vets & Players, a nonprofit founded byBoyer and Fox Sports NFL Insider Jay Glazer which empowers and connects combat veterans and former professional athletes, providing them with a new team to assist with transition to civilian life, promote personal development, and show them they are never alone. The film takes place on the streets of Hollywood and centers on the growing friendship between a struggling recently retired NFL player (McRae) and a homeless veteran suffering from PTSD (Boyer). The movie reveals the common challenges faced by military veterans and professional athletes adjusting to a new life once the uniform comes off. With their “glory days” behind them, the two men bond in search of real purpose and identity.

Grammy-nominated recording artist Wiz Khalifa wrote and performed the original song “Work4It” for the film. Balboa Production partners Stallone and Braden Aftergood executive produces alongside Jerry C. Craig, Glazer, McRae, Joe Newcomb, and Shanna and Rob Schanen. Charles Berg, Boyer, Nicholas Gibeault, Weston Scott Higgins, and Jared Hoffman are producers.

Nate Boyer states, “Merging Vets & Players has had such a profound impact on my life, as well as the lives of so many of our brothers and sisters who either fought for freedom or gave their all on the field of play. We set out to capture the story of MVP on screen. Like the two main characters in the film, many of us battle with personal struggles and are searching for that purpose, identity, and a community where we feel like we belong. “We hope that the release of this film elevates that conversation with audiences everywhere, helping both veterans and former athletes understand that no matter what, We Got Your Back!”

GNC CEO, GNC Live Well Foundation Executive Committee Member, and Merging Vets & Players Board Member Josh Burris says, “MVP highlights the very real struggles combat veterans and retiring professional athletes face transitioning into everyday life. We’re committed to supporting the military community and working with FilmRise and their distribution partners to share this important film with a national audience is part of that dedication. We’re proud to be affiliated with Merging Vets & Players and supporting the work Nate, Jay and the team does to make a difference.”

In addition to the 35 premiere markets, the GNC Live Well Foundation will also sponsor a film screening benefit tour featuring Nate Boyer, along with local veterans and athletes to take place throughout the 2022-23 NFL season in markets where there is an existing MVP chapter or a future chapter is planned, including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Seattle. GNC and the GNC Live Well Foundation have been heavily involved with MVP for several years and donated more than $1M to the organization.

The film rollout will also feature special screenings in partnership with NFL teams including The Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and others.

For more information on the film MVP and how to present and/or find a screening, please visit:vetsandplayers.org.

Comments are closed.