Liam Neeson's Hockey Drama 'Believe 13' Sets Minnesota Shoot for Early 2027 with Director Robert Lorenz

A biographical sports drama with Liam Neeson attached to star is heading to Minnesota, and with principal photography scheduled to begin in early 2027, the production is well into the horizon for crew looking to plan their next major commitment. 'Believe 13' reunites Neeson with director Robert Lorenz for what promises to be an emotionally weighty feature rooted in one of hockey's most quietly remarkable true stories. The project was announced at the 2026 American Film Market, signaling that financing conversations are active and the production is moving with purpose toward cameras up.

Lorenz is best known to industry professionals as the director of 'The Marksman' (2021), the Neeson-led action thriller that performed solidly at the box office during a challenging theatrical window, and 'In the Land of Saints and Sinners' (2023), which again starred Neeson and shot in Ireland. This will be their third collaboration, and that kind of repeated partnership carries real meaning on set. When a director and lead actor have worked together multiple times, the production culture tends to reflect that comfort and efficiency. Lorenz spent years as a producer alongside Clint Eastwood at Malpaso Productions, with producing credits on films like 'Gran Torino,' 'Mystic River,' and 'Million Dollar Baby.' That experience translates into a filmmaker who understands how to run a disciplined, professional set without unnecessary friction. Crew who have worked on Lorenz productions consistently describe organized, well-managed shoots. The screenplay was written by Randy Brown, working from the life rights of both central figures, which suggests a project with strong real-world grounding and meaningful access to the source material.

The story itself centers on Jack Blatherwick, a legendary hockey training physiologist whose methods helped shape the 1980 U.S. Olympic team ahead of their iconic 'Miracle on Ice' victory at Lake Placid. Neeson will portray Blatherwick, tracing his bond with Jack 'Jabby' Jablonski, a highly touted 16-year-old Minnesota hockey prospect who suffered a catastrophic spinal injury during a game in 2009 that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Jablonski's story became widely known in hockey circles and beyond, and his relationship with Blatherwick gave the film its emotional spine. The combination of a beloved sports miracle and a deeply personal recovery narrative positions this as a prestige drama with genuine award-season ambitions, particularly given Neeson's proven box office reliability in the sports-adjacent dramatic space.

Details on the production company, studio, and distribution arrangements have not yet been fully confirmed in public reporting, though the AFM announcement suggests active sales and financing activity. AFM is where serious projects with real packaging go to close deals, so the announcement there is a meaningful signal that this is not a development-stage passion project but a production moving toward a greenlight. The involvement of Neeson at this stage, particularly given his ongoing working relationship with Lorenz, adds significant commercial weight that will attract distribution interest.

Minnesota is the right home for this story in every sense, and the production's choice to film there is as much about authenticity as it is about economics. The state offers a competitive film production tax credit through the Minnesota Film Production Jobs Program, which provides rebates that make the state increasingly attractive for mid-to-large budget features. The Twin Cities metro area, and specifically Minneapolis and its surrounding suburbs, have supported a number of features and television productions in recent years, with stage facilities including Martini Media's production infrastructure and location inventory that spans urban neighborhoods, suburban arenas, and the kind of frozen lake landscapes that are essential to any hockey story set in this region. Minnesota also has a solid local crew base, with experienced IATSE members across most departments, though productions of this scale filming in the market will typically import their department heads and key positions while hiring locally at the crew level. Crew based in Minneapolis and St. Paul should be paying close attention to this one now, well before it gets close to cameras up.

As a biographical drama rooted in hockey, winter athletics, and a real-world spinal injury narrative, 'Believe 13' will carry specific crew demands worth noting. Expect a substantial locations department given the need to find and secure period-appropriate and contemporary hockey arenas, medical settings, and outdoor winter environments across the state. A strong stunt coordinator and sports action team will be essential for recreating on-ice sequences safely and credibly. Period elements tied to the 1980 era will require thoughtful work from the costume and production design departments, even if the story moves between timelines. Any sequences depicting Jablonski's injury and recovery will demand a nuanced approach from the camera and lighting team. This is the kind of drama that rewards careful, deliberate craft at every level.

With roughly a year before cameras roll, now is precisely the right moment to get connected to this production. The window between AFM announcement and a January 2027 start means department heads will likely begin formal conversations in the coming months, with below-the-line hiring ramping through mid to late 2026. ProductionList.com carries the full listing for 'Believe 13,' including production contacts, office addresses as they are confirmed, and crew list updates as the team comes together. If this is the kind of project you want to be part of, bookmark it now and check back regularly as pre-production accelerates.

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