We've been hearing about WWE events where ESPN cameras have been filming Ric Flair for a while now, and known that the footage was being shot for an upcoming edition of the network's 30 for 30 documentary series. Beyond that, however, details have been pretty sparse.
Now, thanks to Richard Dietsch's "Media Circus" column over at Sports Illustrated, we know more. There are still questions, to be sure, but a clearer picture of what we'll see from the special, and when, are coming into focus.
Titled "Nature Boy", the life and times story will be directed by Rory Karpf, who previously was behind the 30 for 30 docs "I Hate Christian Laettner" and "The Book of Manning". Karpf is currently editing the 90 - 120 minute film, although he says there are a couple of interviews he'd like to track down still to add to ones with Flair, his three living children, Sting, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, Ricky Steamboat, fellow Horseman Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson and even Undertaker, to name a few.
Karpf says he was drawn to the story by his love of pro wrestling, but also something that seems to have gotten Flair in trouble from time-to-time over the years... that he is his character all of the time:
In the wrestling world, the viewer isn't sure what's real or what isn't, but "Nature Boy" Ric Flair wasn't just a character.
He was real. The wrestler he portrayed in the ring was also the man he was outside the ring. I found that to be fascinating.
There's not a firm release date in mind for the doc, but Dietsch's post indicates it should air in the next twelve months, and possibly as soon as this Fall.
Excited?