Fans of “Uncut Gems” starring Adam Sandler might be excited for his new Netflix project. Fans of sports cards and memorabilia might be shocked that the movie takes place in the world of sports collectibles.
Josh and Benny Safdie, directors of “Uncut Gems,” are writing and directing the new project. Sandler is starring again as well. While very few details have emerged, the project is supposed to start filming in the second quarter of 2023, according to USA Today.
The question for people in The Hobby is what kind of movie will this be? A sequel-style movie to “Uncut Gems” would seem to fit the style of the Safdie brothers. Will it be as intense? Will it paint Sandler as a winner or loser? Will it paint the sports card world in a good light? These are some of the questions that hopefully get answered soon. However, in the meantime I’ve put together my cast and ideas for a hypothetical version of the movie.
The plot clearly has to revolve around taking chances on high-end items. Sandler’s character is a high-end broker for some shady people who will do anything to acquire the best of the best in sports cards and memorabilia. Sandler’s quests for these rare items has him chasing historical items such as the bat Babe Ruth used when he called his shot during the 1932 World Series, Jackie Robinson’s debut uniform and Sandy Koufax’s Yom Kippur prayer book.
This is where Sandler can have some real creative fun. He is known to be a basketball fan, so maybe he seeks out Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game ball or Michael Jordan’s championship trophies. The possibilities are endless.
Now, any good movie has to have a reason for tension. In this movie, Sandler’s character is in a constant chase against Ken Goldin (the founder of Goldin Auctions) to get the most elite items. However, if Sandler doesn’t deliver for his clients, he could be in trouble. Goldin has unlimited funds and makes a worthy adversary to Sandler around every corner. Goldin will use all of his resources to get what he wants and doesn’t care if it puts Sandler in jeopardy.
Sandler’s character needs a wise savior friend. In Roadhouse, Patrick Swayze had Sam Elliott. Well, Sandler has his own guiding hand in Dr. Jim Beckett, the original card guide founder and superhero of the card world. With Beckett’s skill, Sandler learns how to identify the finest cards and collectables to foil Goldin. And let’s be honest, can you have a baseball card movie without mentioning the Beckett price guides? Not in my world!
Now, we definitely need a shady character to fence the goods, an actor or actress who is both street smart and looks like they could operate in the shadows … Uma Thurman. Without a doubt, she is the perfect choice to round out my main characters. Uma would definitely be the badass heavy to keep the pressure on Sandler throughout the movie.
OK, so that was a fun exercise in Hypothetical Hollywood. What could a real Sandler sports card movie look like? I can only guess, but there is a real dark side to the industry. Recently, a real criminal was arrested on a decades-long fake card scam that made more than $7 million.
In fact, crimes are common in this industry. Google “Operation Bullpen” if you want to never trust an autograph again! This is certainly a stain on the hobby that would make for a good movie. But what about a positive movie? Would anyone want a happy ending?
I’d like to think Sandler and the Safdie brothers could make a great movie that highlighted the positives aspects of collecting. How about Sandler playing a high-end broker who works with honorable people to help preserve and bring to light rare sports artifacts? What if Sandler could track down Honus Wagner’s legendary T206 card in perfect condition? How about the pressure of choosing either a Mike Trout or Tom Brady rookie card to raise money for a plot twist?
The more I think about the possibilities, the more I recognize the realities of the entertainment business. Will the movie be a Disney version of collecting cards? Probably not. With the Safdie-Sandler combo already providing a successful model with “Uncut Gems,” I would expect the next Netflix movie to be much closer to that feeling.
As someone in that world, I’m happy about the mainstream coverage of the collectibles industry. I hope the great people who do work in the industry are represented fairly as well. Either way, Adam Sandler has come a long way from “Billy Madison” and the card industry has come a long way from being a niche hobby. I can’t wait to grab some popcorn and watch!
Ken Goldin previously announced an upcoming series on Netflix about his life and company.
Have you had cards since you were a kid and now you want to sell them? Please email any questions to Danny@SportsBalt.com or visit SportsBalt.com