Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and Donkey star Steve-O came on board Sk8 or Die: The Lee Ralph Storya new series about the life of the New Zealand skateboarder who reached the pinnacle of the sport in the 1980s before suddenly vanishing from the scene. The show, which is currently in active development, is envisioned as a biographical anthology series similar to Ryan Murphy Monsterthat each new season explores the life of another skating legend.
Auckland-based company Tavake will produce the film Sk8 or die with Hawk and Steve-O as executive producers. Vinnie Bennett, who played Young Dom in F9will play the role of Lee Ralph, alongside Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale rider, FBI: Most Wanted) as Lee's sister and lifelong partner in crime, Kim Ralph.
The series will follow Lee's childhood in New Zealand, growing up as the son of a heroin-dealing father and his rise to becoming a professional skating professional in the late 1980s, often skating barefoot. At the height of his fame, as one of the sport's top stars, he suddenly quit.
“Lee Ralph was a truly unique character, and that says a lot in the eclectic world of skateboarding,” Hawk said in a statement. “His skating was powerful and fluid, while his appearance and attitude were unapologetically dirty. But he was always smiling and we were always excited to see him.”
Sky New Zealand Originals has commissioned the series, co-written by Tavake stars Tom Hern and Halaifonua (Nua) Finau, who will also serve as showrunners, with Hern directing select episodes alongside Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe (Two distant strangersHBO BS high). Free and Roe will also serve as executive producers. Julian Arahanga will serve as lead producer.
“I have known Lee for almost 20 years. He is a dear friend and one of a kind,” says Hern. “I've known about his skating successes and slightly mythical antics for years, but it wasn't until researching this project that Nua and I learned about all the other crazy and unbelievable aspects of his story. In addition to Forrest GumpLike the twists and turns of his life, the story of Lee and his family is very touching and inspiring. We can't wait to bring it to the screen.”
Tavake is best known for his sex work drama series Ladywith Rachel Griffiths and Martin Henderson, which won the award for best creation at this year's Monte-Carlo Television Festival. The series is distributed globally by Fifth Season. Tavake will go shopping Sk8 or die to potential co-producers and financial partners at the Mipcom international television market in Cannes later this month.
Tom Hern and Nua Finau are represented by Kaplan and Perrone; Martin Desmond Roe is a partner and co-founder of Dirty Robber and represented by WME and 3Arts; Travon Free is repped by AGI Entertainment Media & Management; Vinnie Bennett is repped by Johnson & Laird Management and Anonymous Content; Keisha Castle-Hughes is repped by Johnson & Laird Management, Innovative Artists & Industry Entertainment; Steve-O is represented by attorney Jeff Bernstein and Empirical.