Gerard Butler will play Rick “Frosty” Hesson, the mentor who trained surf phenomenon Jay Moriarty, in the Walden Media drama Mavericks.
While still a teenager, Moriarity took on the waves at Northern California surfing jewel Mavericks, where the winter swells pull in waves five stories tall. He had prodded wise surfing elder “Frosty” Hesson to prepare him, and after finally relenting, the local legend put Moriarity through a program of intense physical training.
Moriarity died a day before his 23rd birthday in a free-diving accident.
Curtis Hanson is set to direct from a script by Kario Salem and Brandon Hooper.
Hanson is currently searching for a young actor to play Moriarty for filming to start in October.
