CNN
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The new movie 'Fantasy Football' taps into the natural talents of its stars.
Marsai Martin plays Callie Coleman, a tech-savvy young woman who brings a lot of dame-boss energy. Callie Coleman owes her long career in the NFL to her father's career, which led her to join the Atlanta Falcons team.
Her production company produces family-friendly films. (Martin, 18, set a Guinness World Record in 2020 as the youngest Hollywood executive producer to work on a major production.)
Her co-stars Omari Hardwicke (Bobby Coleman) and Roman Flynn (Anderson Fisher), along with film director Anton Cropper, spoke with CNN when they recently appeared at a Falcons game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
It was a familiar environment, as the group filmed many scenes for the film there.
The plot centers on Callie's father, played by Hardwick, whose career appears to be coming to an end when he discovers that his daughter can control her movements through the Madden soccer video game.
Martin believes that his character's role as a friend to members of his new school's robotics club is more than just fun, with a positive message about diversity in technology.
“I’ve met so many girls who are interested in technology and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) or Black girls coding,” she said. “It’s important to shine a light on it because it’s such a big issue. It’s all about representation.”
For Hardwick, the project offered an opportunity to draw on his football roots.
James “Ghost” St. James from “Power” Before becoming famous in roles like Patrick, the Savannah, Georgia native played defensive back at the University of Georgia and later tried out with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent. deputy.
“I can’t believe I’m back home here,” Hardwick said. “This is definitely my hometown team. But I never got to play for the Falcons. “With this film, I had to do my job,” he said.
Hardwick also pointed out that it was fitting that Rome Flynn, who plays Bobby Coleman's rival and hotshot young quarterback Anderson Fisher, would attend a game where the Atlanta Falcons play the Chicago Bears, given that he grew up in Chicago.
Flynn told CNN that unlike their characters, he and Hardwick had no competition between them as leads.
“It’s all love.” he said with a smile. “We respect each other and bring out the best in each other.”
“Fantasy Football” premieres Friday on Paramount+.