MMA Master Rickson Gracie Memoir ‘Breathe: A Life In Flow’ Acquired By FutureIII Entertainment

Anthony D'Alessandro
·3-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Filmmaker Adam Rifkin, Brad Wyman and Michael P.J. Gerstein’s FutureIII Entertainment have acquired the option rights to Brazilian Mixed Martial artist Rickson Gracie’s HarperCollins memoir, Breathe: A Life in Flow.

Rickson Gracie, now 64, ended his fight career undefeated. Breathe: A Life in Flow follows his rise from the victories in the streets during the 1970s to joining the pantheon that includes Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris.

More from Deadline

Rickson Gracie’s memoir weaves together the story of his career with the larger history of the Gracie family dynasty and the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, to his final fight in the Tokyo Dome in 2000.

Brazilian jujitsu, the fighting style developed and pioneered by the Gracie family, has become one of the world’s most prominent martial arts, and Vale Tudo, the “anything goes” style of Brazilian street fighting over which the Gracies had a monopoly, was an early precursor to the UFC.

Rickson Gracie was relatively unknown to the average American until his half-brother Royce Gracie (UFC Hall of Famer and UFC 1, 2 and 4 tournament winner) famously exclaimed, “Rickson is ten times better than me.” Rickson Gracie would go on to win the single event, multi man-Vale Tudo Japan 1994 (with three 3 victories in one night), repeating this feat in 1995 and winning the first Pride Fighting Championship event in 1997 at the Tokyo Dome in front of 50,000 spectators.

FutureIII is producing the project with Donald Kushner. Gerstein has been a member of Gracie’s jujitsu association for 24 years and was able to work with the champ to develop a character-driven story that goes beyond the memoir. FutureIII is currently exploring directors and writers to help bring the story to life for the big screen and beyond.

Gracie tells Deadline, “It has been a long time coming for a movie based upon my life, but what’s most important to me, beyond everything else, is that anyone who watches it, will gain some sort of positive perspective or understanding in their lives. That’s my ultimate hope and goal for this project.”

Gerstein adds, “I’m absolutely ecstatic to have the opportunity to help tell the story of Rickson’s incredible journey and to honor his sacred legacy with a fact based, gritty character portrait, that will not pull any punches. A story like this comes around once in a lifetime and it’s extremely important we get it right and tell it in the most effective manner possible.”

Wyman says, “Adam and I are thrilled to be a part of this project and I believe our years of industry experience will yield a product that will satisfy the combat arts community, while also thoroughly entertaining people who have no interest in martial arts.”

Kushner also adds, “Bringing the greatest fighter that ever lived to the masses will shed new light on this undefeated fighter.”

Rifkin recently directed, and produced with Wyman, the Malcolm McDowell western, Last Train to Fortune. Gerstein also produced Last Train to Fortune. The movie also stars James Paxton, son of Bill Paxton; the project originally conceived for the late actor.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Latest stories