By Mallory Mattingly
AMC Global Media is on a mission to slide into the sports world.
Normally known for drama TV series such as MAD MEN, DARK WINS and BETTER CALL SAUL, the company wants in on the big leagues.
So far, there are no deals in the works, but that doesn’t mean the conglomerate, who also operates AMC, Shudder and BBC America, is ready to give up.
“We know we’re not going to be buying any of the major sports leagues, but we can tap into that audience,” Dan McDermott, chief content officer of AMC Global Media and president of AMC Studios, told Variety in an interview.
For its first venture in the sports world, AMC Global Media, in partnership with NASCAR, greenlit THUNDER ROAD.
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The movie “follows the multi-generational saga of the fictional Whitlock family, whose legacy in stock car racing is as deep as the family’s ties to the southern hill country roots that shaped them,” according to a press release from AMC Global Media.
Teddy Bear Award®-winning actor Dennis Quaid is set to star in the film.
“We are thrilled to team up with NASCAR, a world class partner that continues to engage and entertain their deeply loyal fans for nearly 80 years,” McDermott said “And in the ultimate dream casting, we’re fortunate to have the legendary Dennis Quaid lead this captivating series. This show will be a nonstop thrill ride for viewers.”
It will begin production this summer with a slated 2027 release.
The media company also just greenlit “another installment of its RISE sports docuseries RISE OF THE SAINTS (WT,) an AMC Studios and Skydance Sports co-production with producing partners NFL Films and Eli Manning’s Ten Till Productions.”
From heartbreak to history. ⚜️ Through rare, never-before-seen footage and interviews with Saints legends, this is the story of how a football team helped New Orleans find hope, resilience, and belief after Hurricane Katrina.
#RiseoftheSaints, a new installment of the ‘Rise’… pic.twitter.com/zeS2FwdzEK— AMC TV (@AMC_TV) April 30, 2026
The series will include three episodes, which explore “how the New Orleans Saints went from a displaced and dejected franchise to the beating heart of a city struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, culminating in a historic win in Super Bowl XLIV.”
RISE OF THE SAINTS will include “rare and never-before-seen footage from NFL Films, including video of team speeches and behind-the-scenes photos, the series will feature interviews with club legends and on-camera contributions from former Saints quarterback Archie Manning and his son Eli Manning, whose own career in football was inspired and shaped by his father Archie’s career.”
“The NFL universe is filled with heartening stories of struggle, strategy, talent, and achievement. Coming off of the success of RISE OF THE 49ERS, we’re turning to the New Orleans Saints, highlighting an incredible moment in history which transformed a notable football team and brought the Lombardy trophy to one of America’s greatest cities,” McDermott said in a press release. “We’re reteaming with our incredible producing partners at Skydance Sports and NFL Films, and joining with Archie, Eli (with his Ten Till Productions), and Cooper Manning, to capture and deliver this incredible story to football fans everywhere.”
“RISE OF THE SAINTS is a powerful celebration of what can happen when an entire region comes together in the face of adversity. This series will capture a defining chapter not only for the New Orleans Saints, but for the entire Gulf South,” Saints Owner Gayle Benson added.
RISE OF THE SAINTS will debut on AMC and AMC+ in February 2027.
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