‘Darkish Winds’ Director Chris Eyre Talks New Jim Thorpe Documentary, Titus Welliver & Extra

Purely for sporting causes alone, Jim Thorpe must be talked about in the identical breath because the likes Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, Danny Ainge and Michael Jordan. Historical past Channel shines a light-weight on this legendary determine with a two-hour documentary Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning, which premieres July 7. Directed by Chris Eyre (Darkish Winds), the challenge from government producers together with LeBron James presents a complete exploration into the life and legacy of the most effective all-around athletes ever, who grew to become a cultural icon.

Thorpe excelled at sports activities from his early days as a star soccer participant for the Carlisle Indian College at first of the 1900s, earlier than changing into a pioneer on and off the gridiron for the NFL. He was the primary Native American Olympic gold medalist and an MLB participant for six seasons. He achieved all this at a time when classism and racial strife have been very a lot alive. The Sac and Fox Nation member even appeared in films and have become a supply of inspiration to so many. 

In 2022, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to reinstate him as the only winner of the pentathlon and decathlon on the 1912 Summer time Olympics. He had beforehand been stripped of his medals as a result of he had performed two seasons of semi-pro baseball, thus breaking the then rule that Olympic athletes have to be amateurs. In 2024, Thorpe, who died of coronary heart failure in 1953, was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

Right here Eyre opens up in regards to the significance of this challenge. The Darkish Winds EP/director additionally provides us early Season 4 teases from set, together with working with Bosch star Titus Welliver. 

What sort of stress did you’re feeling to inform Thorpe’s story in an genuine manner? 

Chris Eyre: There was stress to get it proper. My technique was to stay to Jim Thorpe’s victories. I learn plenty of newspaper articles that mentioned he was a tragic determine. That he had all these hardships post-athletics. In the event you dig into his previous on-line, you see a few of that. However the true accountability was I felt like his title was being misplaced. I used to be speaking to some Native American youth and introduced up the title Pearl Jam. I feel they requested, “Who’s that?” I mentioned to myself, “Oh no.” We have been speaking somewhat bit later, and I mentioned, “Jim Thorpe, him?” They didn’t know who Jim Thorpe was. I mentioned to myself, “Something I can do on Jim Thorpe, I might do.” This got here round by means of LeBron James and Uninterrupted and Historical past. I mentioned, “I’m in it doesn’t matter what.” The accountability was how do you attempt to inform this epic life in two hours. This might have been a five-part sequence. It may very well be a function movie, which we’re engaged on getting made. It’s an epic life. It’s an epic story of somebody who perseveres and retains doing. 

The admiration I’ve for him as a Native American, I simply didn’t need his title to be misplaced within the enterprise. Then to have a GOAT like LeBron James endorse this film and produce by saying Jim Thorpe is a GOAT, however not solely that, however one of many biggest People who ever lived. The very fact he persevered and gained and stored going and successful. Sarcastically, in 1912 after they have been doing ticker-tape parades about him on the East Coast, he wasn’t even a United States citizen as a result of he was Native American. Consider that irony. Twelve years earlier than Native American folks have been thought to be U.S. residents, he gained the Olympics and was celebrated as an American athlete in parades in New York and Pennsylvania, however he wasn’t a U.S. citizen. But we claimed him as such. I simply assume his title ought to by no means be misplaced. For younger folks particularly, they need to know the title Pearl Jam. Extra importantly, they need to know the title Jim Thorpe. It was that type of realization that I grew up realizing who Jim Thorpe was. On this age of huge info and web and social media, I feel we’re additionally dropping some features of curiosity and historical past. That’s why I’m joyful to do that. 

The timing couldn’t be any extra good as he was acknowledged with the Presidential Medal of Freedom alongside along with his Olympic medals reinstated to him in recent times. To not point out what’s going on in our world right now. 

You understand the historical past simply citing these two issues. In 2022, his medals have been reinstated with him as the only winner of his occasions. That was 100 and one thing years since he gained the medals posthumously. Then he obtained the Presidential Medal of Freedom final 12 months from President [Joe] Biden and that administration. It is vitally well timed we mirror on the place we’ve been and the place we’re going. The tales are what actually make us American. He’s an unimaginable sum of the elements of this nation that make America nice as a result of he is among the most enduring, tenacious People in sports activities historical past. 

You talked about celebrating the victories and solely having a lot time. Speak about your choice to not focus a lot on the household aspect. We see that explored a bit towards the top, however was that by design? 

Completely it was by design. Once you speak about how do you get this story proper, you get the story proper by going again to the fundamentals of why is his title remembered. There have been plenty of issues that occurred within the epic lifetime of Jim Thorpe that will have been errors or the trivial issues that occur with folks by which their title is tarnished. In my telling of Jim Thorpe as a local particular person, I’m most interested by why his title is well known and revered. That was the very first alternative everybody supported me in. It was actually let’s inform the story in regards to the constructive nature of his successes and why his title ought to by no means be forgotten. You possibly can get into the expose of anybody, particularly athletes and celebrities. He existed earlier than there was any movie star athletes.

He existed earlier than the onset of cash being the commanding factor in sports activities. Mainly, he was an advance of each of these issues. You take a look at it and assume, “Properly, why did he do it?” You say, he did it for the love of sports activities, however extra importantly, while you speak about his historical past. He was a boy who misplaced his twin brother at 9. He misplaced each dad and mom by 11. He was pressured to a boarding he ran away from and eventually obtained so distant at Carlisle that he couldn’t go house. He most likely would have died or made it one way or the other. He selected athletics. You surprise how folks change into who they’re. He grew to become who he was as a result of he didn’t give up. I feel above the whole lot, when he realized to play baseball, a ballroom dancer, when he gained the decathlon and pentathlon. He was the primary president of what would change into the Nationwide Soccer League. He performed with the Canton Bulldogs and gained 9 titles in skilled soccer. His life was epic. 

He even went into appearing. 

He was in 100 films. He had a film made about his life in 1953, The All American the place he was performed by Burt Lancaster.  This must be remade and of which I’m working to remake. It’s an epic life that conjures the celebration of the human spirit. He deserves to have his title recounted time and again as an inspiration to different folks. 

What sort of suggestions have you ever gotten from his family? 

I’ve gotten actually nice suggestions. I’m in contact with Teresa Thorpe, his granddaughter. She could be very excited and despatched me plenty of accolades as a result of folks ought to know his title. They don’t need his title to be forgotten. One of many extra fascinating issues that occurred was that my casting director known as me and mentioned, “It’s a must to see this man.” This was for the a part of Jim Thorpe and the recreations. He appeared precisely like Jim Thorpe, and that was wonderful. I mentioned, “Can he act?” She mentioned, “He can act.” Right here’s the massive factor although. She mentioned, “He’s additionally Sac and Fox Indian like Jim Thorpe was.” I mentioned, ‘Are you kidding me?” What are the percentages of that? I felt in that second it was serendipitous of observe. That Jim Thorpe’s title “Shiny Path,” the place there was this factor that occurred. Dukon Harris is the gentleman who performs him. He’s an artist who lives in Oklahoma and was solid to play Jim Thorpe. He’s nice within the film. It was a type of unimaginable connective tissues to the tribe and Jim Thorpe that he’s from the identical place. 

With this challenge and dealing on tasks equivalent to Darkish Winds, what does it imply to you to see roles that aren’t essentially Indian archetypes, however characters which are past that?

I feel it’s nice as a result of individuals are difficult. I feel for me as a filmmaker, I’m all the time trying on the grey and never the black and white of it. Once you get to Emma and Joe Leaphorn, they’re totally realized three-dimensional characters as a result of they’ve norms to them and secrets and techniques and all kinds of fascinating issues. They’re breaking apart in Darkish Winds, and I’m hopeful they get again collectively. I’m extra within the grey areas like with Jim Thorpe and characters and never what’s on the nostril of what it’s to be Indian. What it’s to be Indian is amorphous, enigmatic. One of many biggest factors of delight after I’m telling Native American tales is that they’re so difficult. We take a look at issues like Killers of the Flower Moon or Darkish Winds or Reservation Canines. Once you do it proper, it has such unimaginable difficult human worth and spirit to it that it creates the perfect tales. 

I do know you’re engaged on Darkish Winds Season 4 now. What are you able to tease about that? How is it having Titus Welliver on this upcoming season? Folks know him from Bosch. Right here he will get to play a extra unhealthy man. 

I simply directed Titus and Zahn [McClarnon] in a scene. It flew off the web page as a result of these guys are so unimaginable collectively. It was like watching two wolves in a room and so they have been each alphas that type of balanced out to this unimaginable equality the place they only maintain their very own house. It was a pleasure to observe Titus and Joe Leaphorn act collectively. I’m excited for folks to see that in Season 4. Simply in a joking manner right here, however all this stuff come collectively. I’ve heard a rumor that Joe Leaphorn’s favourite athlete is Jim Thorpe. 

Jim Thorpe: Lit By Lightning premiere, July 7, 8/7c, Historical past Channel