Space races to Bronko bio

Gridiron project budgeted at $30 mil

By IAN MOHR

Bronko Nagurski biopic is based on Jim Dent's book.

'Monster of the Midway' by Jim Dent.

Commercial production unit Space Program is hitting the gridiron for its first feature project, a biopic of Chicago Bears legend Bronko Nagurski, based on the book "Monster of the Midway" by Jim Dent.

Pic is the first in a slate of projects being developed by SP that also includes TV series.

"Monster" is being adapted by scribes Clancy Sigal and Janice Tidwell. Exec producer is Space Program head Bill Reilly.

Project, budgeted up to $30 million, centers on the player during the politically unstable, mob-heavy intrigue of Chicago during the 1930s and '40s.

Dent's tome "Monster of the Midway: Bronko Nagurski, the 1943 Chicago Bears, and the Greatest Comeback Ever" was published last year by St. Martin's.

Joe Jenckes is SP's head of feature production.

Company was founded in 2000 and has produced commercial spots for Budweiser, Sony PlayStation and Ford.