Release of Burlsworth movie, ‘Greater,’ delayed until summer

It wasn’t an easy path for Brandon Burlsworth to be a college football star, and it doesn’t appear that a movie about his life will have an easy path to the big screen. Moviegoers awaiting the premiere of “Greater” will have to wait a few more months, the movie’s producer said Thursday.

“Greater,” originally scheduled to open across the country on Jan. 29, is the story Burlsworth, the University of Arkansas standout All-American football player.

The delay is the result of the popularity of “Star Wars” and other recent releases which have taken over movie screens around the country for extended runs. Brian Reindl, the movie’s producer, had planned for “Greater” to debut on 400 movie screens in the south and southeast and in southern California and Arizona. Reindl, a Fayetteville real estate investor, spent eight years writing the screenplay and another three years producing the movie, which was filmed in part in Fayetteville and Little Rock.

He said the movie’s distributor informed him earlier this week that the 400 screens wouldn’t be available.

“The movie is ready to go and I want people to see it,” he said, noting the national rollout of the movie may have to be delayed until late summer just before the opening of the college football season. “I wanted nothing more than to get this movie released.”

The movie details the life of Burlsworth, a walk-on Razorback who went on to excel in his collegiate career. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts but was killed at age 22 in a car wreck 10 days after the draft. The wreck occurred near his hometown of Harrison where he was going to attend church with his mother.

The movie was directed by David Hunt and stars Christopher Severio, as Burlsworth, with Neal McDonough, Leslie Easterbrook, Michael Parks and Nick Searcy.

Burlsworth was known for his thick black glasses and his resemblance to comedian Drew Carey, besides his incredible talent on the football field.  The movie’s subtitle calls him “the greatest walk-on player in the history of college football.”

In death, Brandon Burlsworth has left a legacy of his “can do” spirit as the foundation that bears his name carries on his belief that every child is a gift. The foundation is dedicated to support the physical and spiritual needs of children, especially those with limited opportunities and few advantages, meeting health care and other needs. The Burlsworth legacy is advanced through eye care programs, football camps and game tickets and other activities.

Link to this previous Talk Business & Politics story for more information about Burlsworth and the movie.