*Courtesy of Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty.*

Glen Powell is set to portray baseball legend Lou Gehrig in an untitled Universal Pictures film directed by Richard Linklater.

Simon Rich, whose credits include ‘Saturday Night Live’ and the upcoming Sam Altman-inspired film ‘Artificial,’ is writing the screenplay. Lorne Michaels and Erin David will produce for Broadway Video under its first-look deal with Universal, while Powell and Dan Cohen will produce through Barnstorm. Linklater is also in talks to produce for Detour Filmproduction.

Gehrig played first base for the New York Yankees and was a key member of the celebrated 1927 “Murderers’ Row” lineup alongside Babe Ruth. The Baseball Hall of Famer died in 1941 at the age of 37 following a battle with ALS. His life was previously depicted in the Oscar-winning 1942 film The Pride of the Yankees, starring Gary Cooper.

The project reunites Powell and Linklater following their collaboration on Netflix’s ‘Hit Man,’ which they co-wrote, and the 2016 baseball comedy ‘Everybody Wants Some!!.’ Linklater most recently directed the 2025 films ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘Nouvelle Vague.’

Powell will next appear in Judd Apatow’s ‘The Comeback King,’ which Universal plans to release in theaters early next year. He will also star opposite Jenna Ortega in J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Warner Bros. film ‘The Great Beyond.’

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