Stormzy’s #Merky Films to co-produce official Ian Wright biopic

Stormzy is set to executive produce an official biopic about Arsenal and England great Ian Wright through his #Merky Films banner.

The production company launched last year as an extension of the rapper’s #Merky brand, with a stated focus on British storytelling and voices that are often left out of the frame. The new project was confirmed on Tuesday May 12.

The film will trace Wright’s rise from hardship to becoming Arsenal’s second-top goal scorer and Crystal Palace’s Player of the Century. It will also look at his early life as a Black British boy born to first-generation Caribbean immigrants, growing up in a working-class South London community.

An official synopsis says:

“Ian’s journey begins on the Honor Oak Estate in Brockley, south London, where football is the young boy’s only escape from his tough home life. Schoolteacher Sydney Pigden recognises Ian’s struggles and dares him to believe in who he could be. Despite this spark of hope, by his teens, Ian’s dreams of becoming a footballer are falling apart as rejection, oppression, and his own internal rage take their toll.”

It continues:

“By the time he is in his early 20s, Ian’s hope has faded, not least because he strives to be the parent he never had. But with his raw talent finally causing a stir, Ian faces a life-altering choice – risk the only security he has ever known, or take one last shot at the big time.”

Wright spent years being turned away by clubs as a teenager before going on to become a major figure in football. He earned 33 caps for England, played against the likes of Beckham and Zidane, and dealt with injury setbacks along the way.

He retired in 2000 and has since become one of the sport’s most recognisable broadcasters. In 2023, he was awarded an OBE by Prince William. He has also been a regular advocate for the women’s game and has used his platform to raise awareness around the impact of domestic violence on children.

“Telling my story in full for the first time feels surreal and, in some ways, a long time coming,” Wright said of the project. “There are parts of my life that will be familiar because they’ve been talked about over the years, but this film is the first time we’re bringing it all together.”

He added that revisiting the story with writer Tom Wilton made him reflect on how Britain has changed since his parents arrived from the Windrush generation, and on the experiences that shaped him and his brothers. “I hope it shows how complicated life can be for a young person and the influence people around you can have, good and bad,” he said.

“My story is one that truly shows how the company you keep can break you down and build you up. There are hard-hitting moments but in the end I want it to give people hope and joy.”

Stormzy and Akua Agyemfra are executive producing for #Merky Films. The production team also includes Academy Award nominated producer Sara McFarlane, known for A Love Letter to M, and Stephen Tottingham.

Ian Wright and Stormzy. CREDIT: #Merky Films

“I’ve worked with Ian for more than 10 years and it’s an honour to be producing his life story,” Tottingham said. “I feel a sense of responsibility to do Wrighty’s life story justice – he’s one of Britain’s most-loved personalities and I can’t think of anyone else with the depth and breadth of his experiences.”

Stormzy said: “It’s a real honour for #Merky Films to be co-producing Ian Wright’s story. Wrighty’s journey goes far beyond football – it’s about resilience, family and believing in yourself against the odds. He’s inspired generations on and off the pitch and we’re so proud to help bring such an important and powerful story to the screen.”

Casting will be handled by Carolyn McLeod CDG, CSA and Matt Sheppard, the team behind the BAFTA-nominated independent feature Boiling Point. More details on the cast, title and release schedule will be announced later.

#Merky Films sits within Stormzy’s wider #Merky ecosystem, which began nearly a decade ago. That includes the #Merky Football Careers partnership, launched in 2022 to address racial equity in football and create job opportunities for UK Black Heritage youth.

Since then, the initiative has created more than 60 roles in the UK football industry for young people of UK Black Heritage. In 2024, it teamed up with Adidas to launch an online platform for people who had applied for roles, aimed at building a wider community around the scheme.

Stormzy has also expanded the brand into music, publishing and education. That includes #MerkyFC HQ in London, an award-winning publishing imprint called #Merky Books, and a two-day literature festival built around it.

In 2021, he announced support for 30 more students through his Cambridge scholarship scheme, backed by a partnership between the #Merky Foundation and HSBC. The scheme provided 10 students a year with a £20,000 annual scholarship to cover tuition fees and maintenance costs.

He revived the initiative in 2023, pledging to fund 36 more Black Cambridge students over the following three years.