Lion Forge Comics and Stone Village Productions (SVP) have partnered to develop a biographical film about pro wrestler Andre “the Giant” Roussimoff based on the graphic novel biography Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven.

SVP’s Scott Steindorff and Dylan Russell will produce the film, along with Lion Forge’s CEO David Steward II and CCO Carl Reed. Roussimoff’s daughter Robin Christensen-Roussimoff will consult on the film.  Joel Falderon will serve as a co-producer and Barry Alexander as an associate producer. Jimmy Thomas will executive produce.

“Andre the Giant rode the wave of the rise of wrestling in America, while suffering from the painful health condition of gigantism; there’s an Elephant Man story here,” Steindorff said. 

The graphic novel biography was written by Brandon Easton and illustrated by Denis Medri (see “Review: 'Andre the Giant: Closer to Heaven' TP”). The book was nominated for three Glyph Awards and the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity (see “Finalists for the 2nd Annual 'Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics'”). A new edition of