BURBANK, Calif. (September 13, 2019) — Production has begun on Walt Disney Pictures’ “Safety,” a drama inspired by the uplifting story of former Clemson safety Ray McElrathbey, in South Carolina. The film, which is directed by Oscar® nominee Reginald Hudlin (“Django Unchained,” “Marshall”), written by Randy McKinnon (“Where the Water Runs”) and Nick Santora (“Scorpion,” “The Fugitive at Quibi”) and produced by Mark Ciardi (“Chappaquiddick,” “Invincible”), will stream exclusively on Disney+.
“Safety” is the empowering story of Ray McElrathbey, a young man facing a series of challenging circumstances, whose faith and persistence help him to triumph over repeated adversities and play football on scholarship at Clemson University, all while struggling to raise and care for his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr.
“This is a powerful script that touches everyone who reads it; and now we are assembling a cast of wonderful young actors who will bring Ray McElrathbey’s amazing true story to life on the screen,” says director Reginald Hudlin.
“Safety” will film on locations in both Clemson, South Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia before wrapping production in mid-November. The film stars Jay Reeves (“All American”) as Ray; Thaddeus J. Mixson (“The Grind”) as Fahmarr; and Corinne Foxx (“47 Meters Down: Uncaged”) as Kaycee.
About Disney+:
Launching on November 12, 2019, Disney+ will be the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more, together, for the first time. From The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment, Disney+ will offer ad-free programming with a variety of original feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series and short-form content. Alongside unprecedented access to Disney’s incredible library of film and television entertainment, and 30 seasons of “The Simpsons” in the U.S., the service will also be the exclusive streaming home for films released by The Walt Disney Studios in 2019 and beyond, including “Captain Marvel,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Aladdin,” “Toy Story 4,” “The Lion King,” “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” “Frozen 2,”and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” The service will launch in select geographic territories, including U.S., Canada, and The Netherlands, followed shortly by Australia and New Zealand, with the expectation to be available in all major markets within the first two-years. Visit DisneyPlus.com to learn more.
About Walt Disney Studios:
For more than 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music, and stage plays to consumers throughout the world.
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Media Contacts
Walt Disney Studios Global Publicity:
Kara Spector, (818) 560-6881, Kara.Spector@disney.com
Derek Del Rossi, (212) 827-5440, Derek.Del.Rossi@disney.com
Disney+:
Scott Slesinger, (818) 460-7046, Scott.Slesinger@disney.com