Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty on May 25 met with “42” Executive Producer Dick Cook on the set of “42” in Chattanooga.
The feature film is based on the story of baseball great Jackie Robinson. Written and directed by Academy Award winner Brian Helgeland, the film stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, the heroic African American who was the first man to break the color line in the big leagues and whose uniform number, 42, is the only one Major League Baseball has retired.
Harrison Ford stars as Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey, the MLB executive who first signed Robinson to the minors in 1945 before bringing him up to the majors two years later. Helgeland shot portions of the movie at the historic Engel Stadium and other locations in Chattanooga.
The Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission worked with local city and county officials to bring the production to the state. “42” is slated for release on April 12, 2013.