Academy Award-winning editor William Goldenberg steps into the director’s chair with his debut film, ‘Unstoppable’. Known for his stellar work on films like ‘Argo’, ‘The Imitation Game’, ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, among many other acclaimed films, he now dons a new hat this time around by crafting this emotionally resonant sports drama based on the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles.
In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, William delved into his motivations for particularly choosing a sports drama for his first feature. “I’ve been an editor for 30 years and thinking about directing for about 10 of those years,” he says and adds, “The older I got, the more I wanted to tell a story on my own. This was one that really struck a nerve with me. It’s a sports film, but also a human drama, which are two areas I feel very comfortable with. When I met Anthony Robles and his incredible family, I felt like the world needed to hear this story about resilience and inspiration.”
The film stars Jharrel Jerome as Robles, with Jennifer Lopez playing his devoted mother, Judy. Set against the backdrop of adversity and triumph, ‘Unstoppable’ follows Robles’ journey to becoming an NCAA wrestling champion despite being born with one leg.
However, the release of the film hasn’t been without its share of drama off-screen. At a time when the internet was still buzzing over the off-screen friction between ‘It Ends With Us’ co-stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, ‘Unstoppable’ lead actress Jennifer Lopez pulled the plug on her marriage to Ben Affleck, who serves as a producer of the film. The former Hollywood golden couple found themselves navigating their highly publicised separation and divorce during the post-production and promotional phases. This situation raised questions about its potential impact on the movie.
When asked how he managed to maintain focus on the film amidst the personal challenges of the estranged couple, Goldenberg addressed the situation with grace and remarked, “We’re all professionals.”
“Their personal life is their own, and, you know, it’s about the movie. I love them both and wish them well, but, we just keep it about the movie.”
Unstoppable weaves a heartfelt narrative, following Anthony Robles (played by Jharrel) as he channels his indomitable spirit to pursue his dream of wrestling glory at Arizona State University. The film, which is a testament to grit, determination, and the power of the human spirit, also features Bobby Cannavale, Michael Pena, and Don Cheadle in prominent roles.
The film is set to premiere on Prime Video on January 16, 2025.
