Ivan Mactaggart, Oscar-nominated this year for his feature animation Loving Vincent, is teaming with Tracey Adam (The Truth About Love) and theatre producer Karl Sydow (Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story On Stage) on a biopic about former cruiserweight boxing champion Glenn McCrory.

Carrying David will tell the story of McCrory and his adopted brother David, who despite his muscular dystrophy coached his sibling to boxing greatness in a deprived area in the north-east of England during the Thatcher era.

Chris Hill (Bachelor GamesSkins) has penned the screenplay. The project has early financing in place and the team are now looking to enlist a director and begin the casting process.

Mactaggart, through the Cambridge Picture Company, is currently in post-production on Red Joan starring Judi Dench and Sophie Cookson. His previous credits as an executive producer include My Week With Marilyn.

Ivan Mactaggart said: “Carrying David is an epic story of triumph over adversity against incredible odds, which deserves its shot on the big screen.”

Karl Sydow added: “It is the juxtaposition of a strong man being inspired and pushed by a wheelchair-bound invalid that attracted me to this unique project. Chris Hill’s heart-rending yet life-affirming script perfectly captures the shared struggle of two very different brothers facing up to their toughest opponents.”