Olympic gymnast
Kerri Strug became an American hero overnight thanks to her gold medal-winning final vault at the 1996 summer Olympic games. The story took the nation by storm, and now it will be told on the big screen in
Perfect, a new film that will be directed by
Olivia Wilde (
Booksmart). After an extensive search for a young star to take the lead role, the filmmaker has chosen
Jojo Rabbit star
Thomasin McKenzie to vault into the “intimate and unflinching portrait of grit and determination.”
If you’re not familiar with Kerri Strug’s story, here’s a great profile of her famous moment from the Olympics:
Thomasin McKenzie (
Leave No Trace) is set to star in Olivia Wilde’s upcoming biopic on Olympic gold medalist Kerri Strug in
Perfect. According to Deadline, Wilde will direct from a script by Ronnie Sandahl for Searchlight.
Described as “an intimate and unflinching portrait of grit and determination,
Perfect charts the story behind Kerri Strug’s historic Olympic vault to secure America’s first ever gymnastics team gold.”
Strug was a member of the 1996 United States Olympic gymnastics team that was later dubbed ‘The Magnificent Seven’. She is known for vaulting during the competition and injured her ankle on her first landing, but despite the injury she still did her second vault. Despite having and landing on her broken ankle, Strug still won herself and the team a gold medal for her second vault.
Film set up at Searchlight Pictures has a script by Ronnie Sandahl
Brian Welk | May 3, 2021 @ 9:18 AM
Photo: Getty Images
Thomasin McKenzie, the young star of “Jojo Rabbit” and “Leave No Trace,” will play Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug in the biopic “Perfect” from director Olivia Wilde, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap.
“Perfect” is set up at Searchlight Pictures and tells the story of how Strug led the USA women’s gymnastics team to its first gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta including completing her final vault on a badly injured ankle and the price she paid for her heroic efforts.
Thomasin McKenzie to Star in Kerri Strug Biopic Perfect, Directed by Olivia Wilde
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Thomasin McKenzie is going for the gold.
The young star has signed on to play Olympic gold medalist Kerri Strug in the upcoming biopic “Perfect,” from director and exec. producer Olivia Wilde.
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McKenzie, best known for her breakout performances in “Leave No Trace” and “Jojo Rabbit,” will portray Strug in the film, which is described as “an intimate and unflinching portrait of grit and determination” and tells the story behind Strug’s historic olympic vault which secured America’s first-ever gold medal in team gymnastics during the 1996 Atlanta Games.