Apparently Michael Sheen just can’t keep his name out of the news cycle as we now have the trailer for the soccer drama The Damned United set to be released on September 25 from Sony Pictures Classics.
In the film Sheen stars as Brian Clough tellling the story of his doomed 44 day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football Leeds United. The film looks like another generic sports story, but the talent involved says otherwise as it stars Sheen as well as Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney and Jim Broadbent with a script adaptation by Peter Morgan (The Queen) and Tom Hooper (“John Adams”) directing. Sounds like it’s worth a shot to me.
Watch the trailer below and see what you think or check it out in high definition at Apple.
Set in 1960’s and 1970’s England, “The Damned United” tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story of Brian Clough’s doomed 44 day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football Leeds United.
Previously managed by his bitter rival Don Revie, and on the back of their most successful period ever as a football club, Leeds was perceived by many to represent a new aggressive and cynical style of football – an anathema to the principled yet flamboyant Brian Clough, who had achieved astonishing success as manager of Hartlepool and Derby County building teams in his own vision with trusty lieutenant Peter Taylor. Taking the Leeds job without Taylor by his side, with a changing room full of what in his mind were still Don’s boys, would lead to an unheralded examination of Clough’s belligerence and brilliance over 44 days. This is that story. The story of The Damned United.
