In an announcement made Thursday, renowned documentarian Stanley Nelson’s two-part film Vick has a release date. The film is the latest edition in ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 series. Part 1 will premiere on Thursday, January 30 at 9 p.m. ET and part 2will premiere one week later on Thursday, February 6 at 9 p.m. ET.
The film will give viewers a look at each chapter in the compelling life of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick.
Vick will trace the quarterback’s meteoric rise as a college football star to the Atlanta Falcons’ number-one overall draft pick. The film will also cover how Vick quickly went from superstar athlete to national pariah when his career came to a halt in 2007 after he pleaded guilty to involvement in a dogfighting ring. Vick subsequently spent 21 months in federal prison.
How the NFL star’s success paved the way for other Black quarterbacks and how he revolutionized the role of the quarterback with his distinctive style of play will also be documented in the film.
“As a historical documentary filmmaker, I was interested in placing Michael Vick’s life within larger historical narratives–narratives about race and sports, poverty and power, and about the criminal justice system,” said Nelson in a statement. “In the film, we get to see how Vick’s childhood affects the choices he makes, as well as how these larger social forces shape his trajectory. I hope that viewers of the film can gain a fuller understanding of the social context that gave rise to Vick’s story, as well as its reverberating impact.”
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