Maria Bello Joins Kevin Costner in Disney’s Sports Drama ‘McFarland’ (Exclusive)

Niki Caro is directing the movie, which will be produced by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray

Two-time Golden Globe nominee Maria Bello is set to join Kevin Costner in Disney's sports drama "McFarland," an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.

Bello and Costner recently worked together on John Wells' directorial debut "The Company Men."

Niki Caro is directing "McFarland," which will be produced by Mayhem Pictures’ Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, who previously worked with Disney on "Secretariat" and “Invincible."

Also Read: Maria Bello to Get 'Carjacked' by Stephen Dorff (Exclusive)

Based on a true story, Costner will play a coach living in a predominantly Latino California community whose high school track team must overcome social and physical hurdles to become champions during the 1980s.

Bello will play his wife and the mother of his two children.

Disney, which has had great success with sports dramas such as "Remember the Titans" and "Miracle," hopes to resuscitate the lucrative genre between "McFarland" and baseball drama "Million Dollar Arm," which stars Jon Hamm and Suraj Sharma ("Life of Pi"). Having sports-movie icon Costner ("Field of Dreams," "Bull Durham") should help, especially with the actor in the midst of a career resurgence after "Man of Steel."

Also Read: Kevin Costner in Negotiations to Star in Guillermo del Toro's 'Midnight Delivery'

Bello is preparing for a busy fall, with lead roles alongside Hugh Jackman in the kidnapping thriller "Prisoners," as well as Paul Haggis' romantic drama "Third Person." She recently reprised her role as Kevin James' wife in "Grown Ups 2" and will soon be seen in an untitled Dimension Films horror-thriller produced by James Wan.

The actress, who recently starred on NBC's "Prime Suspect" remake and the Fox series "Touch," received Golden Globe nominations for her searing performances in "A History of Violence" and "The Cooler." Bello is repped by CAA and John Carrabino Management.

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