EXCLUSIVE: Salon Pictures readies Duchenne documentary.

Zodiak Rights has boarded documentary The Greatest Ironman which follows a father’s attempts to raise awareness of Duchenne a fatal muscle-wasting disease affecting his son.

The Greatest Ironman, produced by fledgling indie Salon Pictures, is due to begin filming next month and will track Alex Smith as he bids to complete a triathlon in a record-breaking time while carrying his 8 year old boy.   

Peter Williams MBE is directing the film which will air as a 60 or 90 minute feature.

It will be produced by Salon’s Paul Van Carter and Nick Taussig, whose two sons also suffer from the disease.

Zodiak Rights’ head of factual Emily Elisha told Broadcast it was a “truly inspirational” story. “The team at Zodiak felt very moved by the original taster for the film which at its heart has the story of a father giving his all, to a physical extreme, for his son,” she added.

Taussig and Van Carter’s previous credits include films Anuvahood, Ill Manors and Shank.

The Greatest Ironman is also being supported by private investment and a People Award from the Wellcome Trust.

This article first appeared on Screen’s sister publication Broadcast.

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