Manchester United Teams Up With Lionsgate to Launch Prestige Drama Series Inspired by Top British Hits
Lionsgate is teaming up with Manchester United FC to develop a television series chronicling the legendary football club’s rich, decades-spanning history, with early production underway and top creators attached.
Ok, so here’s something that could either be a football fan’s dream or a social media disaster waiting to happen: Lionsgate is getting into bed with Manchester United for a big new TV drama. Seriously, it’s official—the studio most people know from movie franchises just inked a deal with the club that everyone (and their disapproving dads) has an opinion about. And before you ask, no, we have zero details about the plot or release window because it’s all early days. Think ‘embryonic’: they haven’t even picked the writers yet, let alone whoever’s going to inevitably play Sir Alex.
Trying to Make Soccer’s ‘The Crown’
Someone at Lionsgate apparently looked at Netflix’s playbook for ‘The Crown’—AKA: what if you threw prestige money, British fog, and a little artistic license at a dramatic true story—and thought, why not do this for football? So, instead of awkward royal family dinners, expect awkward transfer negotiations, boardroom betrayals, and, let’s be real, probably a lot of David Beckham haircuts. The plan is to dramatize the club’s ridiculous, decades-long saga instead of sticking to a documentary vibe. Whether you’re rooting for drama or groaning about accuracy, that’s the MO: less Wikipedia, more binge-worthy TV.
Who's Involved?
Here’s where it gets interesting for UK TV nerds: Jed Mercurio (the guy behind ‘Line of Duty’ and ‘Bodyguard’) is reportedly in talks to run the show. This actually makes some sense—he’s a self-professed Manchester United fan, and if there’s anyone who can juice real tension out of a delayed penalty call, it’s the man who made police paperwork into must-see TV. If Mercurio comes on board, expect the “authenticity” buzzword to get thrown around a lot, though no one’s confirming him (or anything else) just yet.
Where's the Money Going?
Usually, the only Manchester United deal fans care about takes place in a transfer window, but this is all about TV dollars. Here’s how the math breaks down—at least according to the early whispers:
- Manchester United is set to pocket a guaranteed fee in the low millions if (and when) the show lands on a big-time streaming service.
- There’s a separate pool of royalties—basically, if the show turns into a multi-season hit like ‘The Crown,’ both United and Lionsgate will cash in even more depending on seasons and episodes.
And because nothing in football (or Hollywood) is ever simple, the finer points of the agreement, like creative control and exact financials, are staying strictly behind the Old Trafford walls—for now. Both Lionsgate and Man United’s PR reps gave a classic ‘no comment’ when pressed.
Lionsgate: All-In on Sports Dramas?
This isn’t totally out of left field for Lionsgate, which has been on a sports content kick lately. They already have ‘Warrior’ (MMA), ‘Draft Day’ (NFL), and some wild baseball betting movie in development about the Ippei Mizuhara scandal. The Manchester United series is basically their shot at turning football history into their next prestige trophy.
So, What Now?
No scripts, no cast, and no streamer yet. But let’s be honest: with more than a century of soap opera-level drama—everything from legendary wins to behind-the-scenes meltdowns—there’s no shortage of story material.
As with every high-profile football project, expect fans to immediately argue online about what 'really' happened. But until the ink dries and the cameras roll, it’s all speculation and potential.
Got strong feelings (or wild casting ideas) about Manchester United’s TV debut? Fire away below—let’s see who’s got the hottest take.