Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Dune, Killers of the Flower Moon) and his son, Geoff Roth, have acquired the rights to adapt the life story of legendary poker player Stu Ungar and have already begun developing a biographical miniseries.
Stu Ungar, whom The New York Times called the greatest enfant terrible in the history of poker, was celebrated as a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion by the age of 27. As a teenager, he achieved tremendous success in gin rummy as well, and by his twenties, he had so few opponents left that he turned his attention to poker.
Sixteen years after winning his second world title, in 1997, Ungar made history by capturing his third WSOP Main Event championship. By then, however, he was in poor health due to severe drug addiction. A year later, he passed away in Las Vegas.
Ungar’s life — a story of immense talent, genius, but also mental struggles and self-destruction — has been portrayed before, but for the first time, an official, family-approved biographical series is being developed, offering a deeper insight into the life of the legendary poker player.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to tell Stuey’s story. He was truly a unique and unforgettable talent,” Eric and Geoff Roth said in a joint statement.
Stu Ungar’s daughter, Stefanie, said that her family had long protected his story and only now felt ready to share it. She highlighted that Eric Roth had personally met Ungar in 1979 while watching him play cards in Las Vegas, adding a more personal connection to the project.
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