Few events are packed with as much front-loaded anxiety as the NFL Draft.
Pro football's annual ritual of legalized servitude crackles with absurd levels of breathless predictions about questionable 22-year-olds who are expected to solidify the reputations of middle-aged men and somehow redeem an entire city, region and billion-dollar franchise. It would make for a great movie.
Kevin Costner and company certainly hope so.
"Draft Day," the new film directed by Ivan Reitman, starts shooting Wednesday in Greater Cleveland. It will be joined on Monday, May 20 by the crew of Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," completing the 2013 version of Hollywood on the Cuyahoga.
Costner stars in "Draft Day" as fictional Browns general manager Sonny Weaver Jr., a man charged with resurrecting the once proud franchise, or at least scoring a primo player in the draft. Co-written by noted playwright and Cleveland Heights native (and lifelong Browns fan) Rajiv Joseph with Scott Rothman, the film also stars Jennifer Garner, Ellen Burstyn and Sean Combs. Denis Leary plays head coach Vince Penn, with Frank Langella as the testy team owner. Chadwick Boseman, currently in theaters as Jackie Robinson in "42," takes on the role of flashy prospective pick Vontae Mack.
"What we all really responded to in the script was the magical notion of draft day being the culmination of your life events, leading up to that one big moment," said Ali Bell, one of the film's producers. "It's about those decisions you make and how they impact you and all the people around you."
Bell and about 150 cast and crew members will be shooting in Berea, Shaker Heights and other locales through the end of June. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" will also film through the end of June. Unlike the "Captain America" sequel, which is shutting down a big chunk of the West Shoreway from Wednesday, May 29, through Friday, June 14, "Draft Day" will not require the closing of major roads.
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