The hockey ballad Hit Somebody by Warren Zevon has become the subject from which Kevin Smith may make his hockey film about. In the ballad, the story goes that a poor farmboy named Buddy who isn’t good with a puck becomes known as an enforcer which earns him a place on a team from Saskatoon. He struggles with his hockey career as the coach tells him he is there to protect the goal scoring players, but all he really wants is to score a goal – which he does in his final game.
Kevin Smith recent took this song inspiriation and pitched the idea to WB to see if he could get it made into a film, and it looks like for now they are passing on it.
Smith’s own Twitter updates us on the process:
@ThatKevinSmith “What did WB say to Hit Somebody?” Essentially? “That movie requires a needle-threading approach. We make chainsaws here.”
@ThatKevinSmith Understandably, it’s an easier call with a script. So as of 2/24, I gonna start writing HIT SOMEBODY. WB’s in-or-out remains to be seen.
I am to assume that “needle threading” implies a delicate approach to a small market. Which I don’t know is accurate in a feelgood sports film. So as Smith takes his rejected pitch and heads to the drawing board anyways, Hit Somebody may yet see the light of day. Whether its with WB or not, we wont know until he has an actual script in hand to pitch.
I would trust Smith and his respect for Canada’s sport of Hockey any day. I look forward to seeing what he does with it!
Check out the original song.
Interesting trivia: While it is our most popular sport, Canada’s Official Sport is not Hockey as most assume it is. On the books LaCrosse is Canada’s Official Sport.
