LONDON — Rapper Stormzy announced in London that he will executive produce a biopic of former Arsenal, Crystal Palace and England striker Ian Wright. The film is in development and will be co-produced by Stormzy's company Merky Films.

Tom Wilton will write and direct the feature. Wilton grew up on the same housing estate as Wright in Brockley, London, and previously wrote the films "Muscle," "Bump," and "A Love Letter to M." Sara McFarlane, an Academy Award-nominated producer, is part of the producing team.

"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." Stormzy said. He described the project as the story of a Black British boy born to first-generation Caribbean immigrants against a backdrop of a working-class south London community.

Wright made his debut for Crystal Palace in 1985 at age 22 and scored two goals in the 1990 FA Cup final. He moved to Arsenal in 1991 and became the club's second-top goal scorer. He was later named Crystal Palace's Player of the Century. Wright scored nine goals in 33 appearances for England before retiring from playing in 2000.

After retiring, Wright guest-hosted Top of the Pops, presented his own chat show Friday Night's All Wright, and regularly appeared as a football pundit. He has championed the women's game and has drawn attention to the impact on children growing up with domestic violence. He was awarded an OBE by Prince William in 2025.

"Telling my story in full for the first time feels surreal and, in some ways, a long time coming. 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," Wright said. "There are hard-hitting moments but in the end I want it to give people hope and joy."

Wilton said the film would explore aspects of Wright's life that remain unknown to the public. "For a man so well-known, there is still so much for people to discover, including what it took for him to never give up," he said. "I made a promise to tell the history like it was raw and real. Now, I can't wait for people to truly experience Ian Wright's incredible journey."

Merky Films previously released the short film The Big Man, directed by Aneil Karia, in which Stormzy played the lead role of a former rap star navigating a restless and uncertain chapter of his life. The Ian Wright biopic is the company's first feature film project.