The disgraced cycling champion is ready for his close-up. Again.
Lance Armstrong has officially given his blessing to Austin Butler, signing off on the life rights for a new authorized biopic that promises to tell his story with full access and zero guardrails. The Oscar-nominated Elvis star will pedal into Armstrong’s cleats under the direction of Edward Berger, the filmmaker behind Conclave.
Unlike the 2015 film The Program—which Armstrong famously did not participate in—this time, the controversial athlete is all in. Producer Scott Stuber reportedly spent considerable time securing those coveted life rights, even before his current Amazon MGM Studios deal. That dedication appears to be paying off, as the project has already ignited what sources describe as a “frenzied bidding war” among major studios.
The package comes loaded with serious Oscar pedigree. Zach Baylin, who earned an Academy Award nomination for writing King Richard, is penning the screenplay. Meanwhile, Berger will produce alongside Stuber and Nick Nesbit, with Baylin, Josh Glick, and Zac Frognowski serving as executive producers.
So what kind of film are we getting? Insiders say the creative team envisions something that falls between a high-octane sports drama and a morally complex character study. The goal is to create a “cross between F1 and The Wolf of Wall Street,” according to sources close to the project.
The really interesting part? Baylin isn’t just relying on Armstrong’s perspective. He’s reportedly interviewing people from throughout the cyclist’s life, with “nothing off limits.” That suggests this won’t be a sanitized rehabilitation tour, despite Armstrong’s involvement.
Armstrong’s story remains one of sports’ most dramatic rises and falls. The Texas-born cyclist survived testicular cancer, then dominated the Tour de France with seven consecutive victories. His Livestrong Foundation raised hundreds of millions for cancer research, making him an American hero.
Then came the reckoning. In 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency concluded its investigation, finding that Armstrong had orchestrated a sophisticated doping operation. His denials crumbled, his titles vanished, and his legacy transformed overnight from inspiration to cautionary tale.
Butler seems built for this kind of morally complex role. His recent work in Eddington and Caught Stealing showcased his range, playing both charismatic manipulators and desperate underdogs—skill sets that should serve him well here. The actor already has a stacked slate ahead, including Heat 2, Miami Vice, and Luca Guadagnino’s American Psycho.
This marks another collaboration between Butler and Berger, who previously teamed up for the sci-fi project The Barrier. Whether that film’s timeline will shift to accommodate the Armstrong biopic remains unclear.
Ben Foster previously portrayed a villainous version of Armstrong in The Program, adapted from journalist David Walsh’s book about pursuing the cyclist. That unauthorized telling clearly didn’t sit well with Armstrong. This time, he’s controlling the narrative.
Or at least trying to. With Baylin digging deep and Berger behind the camera, this authorized biopic might still deliver some uncomfortable truths. The question isn’t whether Armstrong will look bad—that’s inevitable given the facts. The question is whether his cooperation will yield genuine insight or just damage control with better production values.
Studios are certainly betting on the former. The bidding war suggests Hollywood believes there’s still an appetite for the Armstrong saga, even a decade after his public unmasking. Maybe it’s Butler’s star power. Maybe it’s Berger’s hot streak. Or maybe we’re all just suckers for a good antihero story.
Either way, Armstrong is getting another shot at shaping how the world sees him. And this time, he’s got Elvis on his side.
