'Pele' Movie: First Photo From Biopic Released

The film about the legendary Brazilian soccer player, written and directed by Michael Zimbalist and Jeff Zimbalist, is shooting in Rio de Janeiro.

LONDON -- The first image from Pele, the drama about the legendary Brazilian soccer player written and directed by Michael Zimbalist and Jeff Zimbalist, has been unleashed as the cameras roll in Rio de Janeiro.

The still captures Leonardo Lima Carvalho, the youngest actor who portrays soccer king Pele from ages 10 through 13, playing with a soccer ball made of socks in the alleys of Bauru, Sao Paulo, where he grew up.

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Vincent D'Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta, Colm Meaney and Seu Jorge star in the film.

Imagine Entertainment and Seine Pictures are behind the production, with the latter fully financing the film, having licensed the footballer's life rights from Sports Licensing International B.V.

Imagine's Brian Grazer and Kim Roth, Seine Pictures' Ivan Orlic and Colin Wilson are producing. Santoro will associate produce.

Domestic rights for the film are jointly repped by CAA and WME. Exclusive Media is handling international sales.

Pele is described as an origins story, chronicling Pele's rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to become the people's hero when, as a 17-year-old, he led Brazil to its first World Cup victory, in 1958.

Kevin de Paula will star as Pele from ages 13 to 17.

Also in the cast are Brazilian actors Marianna Nunes, Milton Goncales, Rafael Henrique, Marcus Vinicius, Julio Levy, Thelmo Fernandes, Felipe Simas, Charles Myara, Jerome Franz and Roger Haag.