The life of Justin Fashanu, the first footballer to come out as gay, and his brother John Fashanu is to be adapted into ITV drama by BAFTA-nominated author Kwame Kwei-Armah.
Justin Fashanu was an extremely talented footballer who became the first black British footballer to be sold for £1million (US$1.2million) aged just 20 and went on to become one of British sport’s most celebrated figures. He came out as gay in 1990 and committed suicide in 1998 after his football career lay in tatters and was ostracized by his family.
The drama will interweave the lives of Justin Fashanu and his brother John Fashanu, who also played soccer and was estranged from his brother at the time of his death.
ITV said the drama is being put together with the support of Fashanu’s brother and other contributors include LGBTQ+ activist Peter Tatchell. Dominic Treadwell Collins’ ITV Studios label Happy Prince produces Kwei-Armah (Elmina’s kitchen) writes and distributes to ITV Studios.
Kwei-Armah said, “I grew up with the Fashanu brothers. I was fascinated by them. Inspired by them. As an adult my heart breaks for her. “The past is a foreign country,” they say, “there they do things differently”. in the FashionI wanted to delve into that past, especially one that resonates so much with today.”
Polly Hill, head of ITV Drama, said the writer’s scripts are “brilliant and tell a story that is heartbreaking and sadly still relevant today”.
ITV will also soon be dealing with premiere biopics Crossing Star Noele Gordon with Helena Bonham Carter and Cary Grant with Jason Isaacs.