In depicting the daily grind of coach Gary Gaines' (Billy Bob Thornton) winning team and the potential destinies of its individual players, the story paints a vivid portrait of Odessa (and places like it all across America) where, once a week during the fall, the town and its dreams come alive beneath the dazzling and disorienting Friday night lights...when the Panthers take to the field. Friday Night Lights illuminates the hopes and dreams of Odessa's townsfolk, who ardently fill Ratliff Stadium's 20,000 seats every Friday night. For the young men of the team, every moment, every play is a chance to transcend their small town and the fleeting fulfillment of a gridiron stardom whose pinnacle may be reached by the time they turn 18.
Originally published in 1990, Bissinger's book went on to become a best-seller, has gone through several re-printings (currently in its 10th paperback edition) and was named by Sports Illustrated as one of the Top Five books ever written about sports and the Number One book about football.
The film is produced by Academy Award® winner Brian Grazer, directed by Peter Berg (The Rundown, Very Bad Things) and adapted from Bissinger's book by Berg and David Aaron Cohen (The Devil's Own). The executive producers are James Whitaker and John Cameron.
Academy Award®-winning writer, actor, director and musician, BILLY BOB THORNTON (Coach Gary Gaines) has an extensive and impressive career in motion pictures, television and theater. Charismatic and uniquely talented, Thornton has established himself as one of the most sought after filmmakers of his generation.
Billy Bob Thornton is currently celebrating a high-water mark in his career. Most recently, Thornton starred in and garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role in the critically acclaimed hit "Bad Santa," and received rave reviews for his portrayal of legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett in Touchstone Pictures' "The Alamo."
He is currently in production on Harold Ramis' dark comedy "Ice Harvest," co-starring John Cusack. Showing the versatility of his acting abilities, in 2001 Thornton starred in the caper comedy "Bandits" for director Barry Levinson and co-starring Bruce Willis and Cate Blanchett; the noir "The Man Who Wasn't There" for the Coen brothers; and the heartwrenching drama "Monster's Ball," in which he co-starred with Halle Berry, Peter Boyle and Heath Ledger.
Each of the three performances garnered Thornton unprecedented critical acclaim and resulted in him being named Best Actor of 2001 by the National Board of Review and receiving Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor in a Drama for "The Man Who Wasn't There" and Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for "Bandits," as well as an American Film Institute Award nomination for Best Actor for "The Man Who Wasn't There."
Thornton's 1996 release of the critically acclaimed and phenomenally popular feature film "Sling Blade" (in which he starred and directed from an original script he wrote) firmly secured his status as a pre-eminent filmmaker. For his efforts, he was honored with both an Academy Award® for Best Adapted Screenplay and an Academy Award® nomination for Best Actor. The film, produced by The Shooting Gallery and released by Miramax, also starred Robert Duvall, J.T. Walsh, Dwight Yoakum and John Ritter.
Prior to "Sling Blade," Thornton already had an extensive motion picture credit list. He wrote and starred in the thrilling character drama "One False Move," which brought him immediate critical praise. Thornton's powerful script (co-written with Tom Epperson)was enhanced by his intense performance as a hunted criminal. The film, directed by Carl Franklin, was an unheralded sleeper success.
In addition, Thornton has been featured in such films as The Winner for director Alex Cox; Indecent Proposal, directed by Adrian Lyne; Deadman for Jim Jarmusch; and Tombstone for George Cosmatos. Thornton has also appeared in the films "On Deadly Ground," "Bound By Honor," "For The Boys" and "The Stars Fell on Henrietta."
As a writer, Thornton has worked on numerous projects for United Artists, Miramax, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Touchstone Pictures, Island Pictures, David Geffen Productions and HBO. He also scripted "A Family Thing," a highly regarded feature film that starred Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones.
Thornton has also co-starred in the blockbuster action-adventure film "Armageddon" with Bruce Willis for producer Jerry Bruckheimer; co-starred opposite Sean Penn and Nick Nolte in "U-Turn," directed by Oliver Stone; and starred in "Primary Colors" opposite John Travolta and Emma Thompson for director Mike Nichols. He also starred
in the dark comedy "Pushing Tin" opposite John Cusack.
Thornton received an Academy Award® nomination and Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his celebrated work in the tightly woven drama "A Simple Plan" for director Sam Raimi, as well as a Best Supporting Actor award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Screen Actors Guild.
For his second and third directorial outings, Thornton chose the comedy "Daddy and Them," which he again wrote and starred in, and the epic screen version of the bestselling Cormac McCarthy novel, "All the Pretty Horses," starring Matt Damon, Penelope Cruz and Henry Thomas.
Thornton also co-wrote "The Gift," starring Cate Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi and Hilary Swank. Thornton's other film credits include the comedy "Waking Up In Reno," costarring Charlize Theron, Patrick Swayze and Natascha Richardson; the drama "Levity," in which he co-starred with Morgan Freeman, Holly Hunter and Kirsten Dunst; "Intolerable Cruelty," co-starring George Clooney and Catherine Zeta Jones; and Love Actually, with Hugh Grant, Laura Linney and Liam Neeson.
