Liam Neeson Stars in Hockey Drama Believe 13

Neeson will play coach Jack Blatherwick in the biographical sports film, directed by Robert Lorenz and set to shoot in Minnesota in early 2027.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Hockey

Liam Neeson Stars in Hockey Drama Believe 13

Liam Neeson will play hockey coach Jack Blatherwick in Believe 13, a biographical sports drama directed by Robert Lorenz. The film follows Blatherwick as he mentors a rising teen hockey star after a devastating injury, and additional casting is still underway.

Why it matters

The project reunites Neeson and Lorenz, who previously worked together on The Marksman and In the Land of Saints and Sinners. The story draws on a real Minnesota hockey narrative, giving the production a local connection to the state where filming is planned.

Blatherwick was a hockey training physiologist and high-school coach who helped train the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team. The film's production schedule and full cast remain unannounced.

The players

Liam Neeson

Irish actor known for action and dramatic roles in films such as Taken and Schindler's List, cast here as Jack Blatherwick.

Robert Lorenz

American director and longtime collaborator of Clint Eastwood, who previously directed Neeson in The Marksman and In the Land of Saints and Sinners.

The details

Randy Brown wrote the screenplay, inspired by the true story of Blatherwick mentoring Jack Jablonski, a player who was left paralyzed by a major spinal injury and whose high school team went on to win the state championship. Lorenz will direct the project, and additional casting is still underway.

1980: Blatherwick helps train the U.S. Olympic Team.
Early 2027: Principal photography begins in Minnesota.

Roadmap

Believe 13 extends the tradition of American hockey films built around the 1980 Miracle on Ice, with Blatherwick's training work tying this story directly to that Olympic squad. The project places a Minnesota youth hockey narrative within that lineage.

The film's casting and production schedule are still being finalized, so the on-screen lineup and filming dates may change before shooting begins in Minnesota. Viewers should watch for official announcements on the cast and release window.

The takeaway

Sports films built on real coaching careers often draw their emotional weight from mentorship rather than game results. Believe 13 suggests that the story of how a coach helps a young athlete recover may resonate as much as any championship.