Buffalo Bills running back and Ray Davis’s journey back in the foster care system moves forward as a feature film.
Crossroad Productions is in development on the inspirational drama film Separatist opinionwhich has Gary Fleder (Fugitive jury, Express, The arrival) is set to direct from script by Break point and Varsity Blues Screenwriter W. Peter Iliff, Hollywood Reporter I’ve learned. Blue Fox Finance is financing the project, which has the support of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Separatist opinion Focuses on the early years of the athlete who earned a spot in the NFL’s most recent Pro Bowl. The film follows 9-year-old Davis in San Francisco as he deals with poverty due to his mother struggling with addiction and his incarcerated father not being in the picture. After spotting a poster for the youth mentoring group Big Brothers Big Sisters, Davis makes a call and is paired with Patrick, a young Google employee who becomes his mentor and soon must navigate Davis’ father who also wants to be involved in his life.
Casting is currently underway to find a young actor to play Davis, who the Bills took in the fourth round of the 2024 draft out of the University of Kentucky. Separatist opinion It is eyeing a February 2027 production launch in Davis’ hometown of San Francisco, where the sports project has received the California Film Tax Credit and San Francisco Scene Incentive Program. Patrick Rizzotti (Pride, The mosque, Super) is producing the film, which has Lani Albin as a co-producer.
The Buffalo Bills had a tough stretch over the years — which included losing four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s — before an era of renewal that began with the signing of star quarterback Josh Allen in 2018. Since then, the Bills have shed their superstar status and become Hollywood darlings, with the team starring in the most recent season of the HBO series. Hard hits and THR After we previously reported that a documentary was in the works about defensive player Damar Hamlin and his recovery from cardiac arrest on the field.
“Mentoring has been proven to be one of the most powerful ways to change the course of young people’s lives — and Ray’s story is a poignant example of what happens when young people, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to dream bigger and fulfill their potential,” says Adam Vassallo, chief marketing and communications officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
“Ray’s story goes beyond football,” Rizzotti adds. “It’s about the universal need for connection, hope and guidance. This project represents what storytelling aims to achieve, and I’m so lucky to be a part of it.”
Davis points to his pride that his path has allowed him to support youth in foster care: “Football gave me something no one else did – it gave me a reason to keep going. If my story helps even one child feel seen, or inspires a mentor to step up, then everything I’ve been through has been worth it.”
“The months I spent interviewing Ray, his father, and older brother Patrick ignited a passion within me that I rarely experience in my writing,” says Iliff. “The unbreakable human spirit displayed by young Ray is a reminder that anything is possible in this life.”
Fleder stresses that the film will not be “a glossy Hollywood version of a sports legend.” “It needs grit, urgency and rawness. This film will capture the harsh realities that Ray faced and the quiet strength of someone who simply shows up,” he explains.
Buffalo Bills Vice President of Communications Derek Boyko adds, “This project is more than just a movie — it’s a lifeline of hope for kids across our country facing similar challenges. Getting to know Ray and Patrick and learning about their relationship has been truly inspiring.”
The film team hopes to care for more than 300,000 children currently in the foster care system in the United States. The project will also highlight the importance of mentorship through programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters, which has partnered with the NFL since 2019.
“We are excited to welcome this production to San Francisco and to help tell Ray Davis’ powerful story of where it all began,” says Manijeh Fata, Executive Director of SF Film for the San Francisco Film Commission. “We are grateful to the production team for their commitment to authenticity and choosing to film here. It is an honor to support a project that highlights the resilience, mentorship, and spirit of a city where people find strength and hope.”
Davis is represented by Ed Barry of CAA. Elif and Felder are represented by David Saunders of AIG.
