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| Filmed in Chicago and surrounding areas, The Express will be distributed by Universal Pictures and is scheduled for an October 2009 Release. |
| Charles S. Dutton will play the role of Willie Davis, Erinie's grandfather. |
Life of Heisman Winner Ernie Davis
Express" Here's an overview of individuals featured in the film that will highlight the life of Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. |
Who is in "The Express" Lineup?
Playing the role of Ernie Davis
Actor Rob Brown has scored the lead role. The 22-year-old Brown, an
actor from Brooklyn, played football at Amherst College in Massachusetts.
He made his motion picture debut in 2000 as one of the leads in "Finding
Forrester." The movie starred Academy Award winners Sean Connery,
Anna Paquin and F. Murray Abraham. Brown has since appeared in
"Coach Carter" in 2005, starring Samuel L. Jackson, and "Take The Lead"
in 2006, starring Antonio Banderas.
In an article on WETMTV.com, Jericka Ducan quotes Brown discussing his
thoughts on the magnitude of Ernie Davis.
"I knew he was the first black Heisman winner, but I didn't know how young
he was when he passed away and so forth, said Brown. "As I read more
about him I'm surprised that many people don't know about him."
Davis' College Coach
Well known actor Dennis Quaid is featured as former Syracuse coaching
legend Ben Schwartzwalder. He was the head football coach at Syracuse
University who watched Davis come in and restore the Orangemen as a
national power.
Davis' High School Football Coach
Veteran actor Gary Houston has been cast in the film "The Express" as
Marty Harrigan, who was Ernie Davis' football coach at Elmira Free
Academy in the 1950s. Dave Fulton, publicist for the Universal Pictures
film about Davis' life, said that Houston appeared in a scene in which
Syracuse University football coach Ben Schwartzwalder and running back
Jim Brown visit Elmira to recruit Davis.
Davis' Mother
Playing Marie Fleming will be Aunjanue Ellis. The 38-year-old Ellis, a
native of San Francisco, has appeared in more than 30 movies and TV
series. She was in eight episodes of "Justice," and her movie credits
include the 2004 film "Ray," starring Jamie Foxx, and 2006's
"Freedomland," starring Samuel L. Jackson.
Davis' Grandfather
Veteran actor Charles S. Dutton has been cast as Willie Davis, Fleming's
father. Dutton, 56, is a native of Baltimore who has 74 credits as an actor
in movies, TV and the theater, plus four as director and two as producer.
Dutton is an ex-convict who served 7 1/2 years in prison for fatally stabbing
a man in a street fight; he came to love the theater while behind bars.
He has twice been nominated for Broadway's Tony Award as best actor --
in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" in 1985 and "The Piano Lesson" in 1990.
Dutton appears in two movies scheduled for release this year:
"Honeydripper," starring Danny Glover, and "The Third Nail," starring Trey
Deonte.
Playing the role of Jim Brown
Darrin Dewitt Henson, a choreographer, dancer and actor, was cast as
Brown. He has acted in productions such as the Showtime series "Soul
Food," the ABC-TV movie "Double Platinum" and the film "Stomp the Yard."
Brown preceded Ernie Davis at Syracuse and was slated to play in the
same NFL backfield with Davis in Cleveland. Brown retired as the NFL's
all time leading rusher.
Playing the role of Floyd Little
Chadwick Boseman plays Floyd Little. He has appeared in the TV series
"CSI: New York," "Third Watch" and "Law & Order," and he played the male
lead in the 2006 short drama "LadyLike." Little was another great running
back that came out of the Syracuse program.
Playing his college roommate
Omar Miller (Eight Mile & Get Rich or Die Trying) fills this role for the movie
that takes place in the late 1950s. In the movie, Miller helps Ernie Davis
overcome racism that he faced.
Miller is quoted in an article on WETMTV.com about how the whole country
will soon know the Ernie Davis story.
"People in Syracuse and Elmira know he's a legend, but to the rest of the
county you kind of sleep on him," said Miller. "They'll wake up when the
movie comes out."
No Reigning Oranges, But a Purple Rein Instead
Despite Ernie Davis having played college ball for the Orangemen, it's
Northwestern football fans could soon find themselves on the silver
screen for Ernie Davis' movie. The Wildcats Ryan Field serves as the
backdrop for the movie's football scenes and many Northwestern students
are filling the stands as extras. The student have been dressed in old-time
clothing and some of them were given haircuts.
| Dennis Quaid will be featured in the role of former Syracuse football coach Ben Schwatzwalder |