Luke Littler the movie! Astonishing bidding war 'erupts' over the right to tell teenage darts sensation's life story – with Anthony Joshua's people 'interested'
It's the stranger-than-fiction story of the unassuming teenager who switched darts on his own overnight – and a story that practically begs to be made into a movie.
Reports suggest Luke Litter's meteoric rise has already sparked a bidding war for the rights to reproduce it on film, less than a day after he became the youngest ever World Darts Championship finalist at Alexandra Palace.
Boxing great Anthony Joshua's production company is said to have submitted a multi-million pound bid for permission to adapt the 16-year-old's story after millions watched his nail-biting final against Luke Humphries on Wednesday.
Littler, who is now one of the top 32 darts players in the world, took on world number one Humphries as the youngest ever finalist of the PDC World Darts Championship. He lost 7-4 after beating other players with a lifetime of more experience.
Joshua's production company, SBX Studios, is said to be eyeing a biopic and it comes as Sky Sports has confirmed it is producing a behind-the-scenes documentary about this year's darts championship like no other.
Luke Littler – pictured here after his nail-biting WDC final against Luke Humphries – is reportedly at the center of an intense bidding war for the rights to film his life story
Millions watched the 16-year-old version of Humphries, giving Sky Sports its largest non-football audience ever
Boxer Anthony Joshua's production company SBX Studios has reportedly made a multi-million pound bid for the rights to Littler's story
Littler – pictured opposite Humphries on Wednesday night – has reignited interest in darts in a way not seen in years
A source told The Sun about Joshua's rumored interest in Littler: 'There is a real battle to buy Luke's film rights and his team have had loads of offers.
“Anthony's production company put one on the table yesterday and are really keen to get Luke on board.
'As a sportsman, Anthony has seen Luke's incredible rise and finds his story incredibly inspiring. He would love the opportunity to help spread the word and thinks their offer is one of the best Luke will get.”
According to its website, SBX Studios has produced content for brands including Hugo Boss, Lucozade, Under Armor and Turkish Airlines, as well as online sports platform DAZN and boxing promoter Matchroom.
It has also created content for the likes of Raheem Sterling and Mo Farah, as well as Joshua himself – but a project like adapting Littler for the big screen would likely be its biggest yet.
Film executives will be keen to capitalize on Littler's fame while it is still fresh, amid a resurgence in mainstream interest in darts not seen since Phil 'The Power' Taylor.
It doesn't hurt that the 16-year-old's life story has all the ingredients of a good biopic, from his humble roots in Warrington to the young love that blossoms between the teenager and 21-year-old beautician Eloise Milburn.
His arrival on the world stage came after years of conquering junior competitions with the encouragement of his parents, who started him playing darts from the moment he could walk and encouraged him to develop his potential at the oche.
And any adaptation would follow a number of other “alternative” sports biopics based on a true story that have been released in recent years.
These include films such as The Phantom of the Open, based on the exploits of Maurice Flitcroft, the 'world's worst golfer', and Gran Turismo, based on racing driver Jann Mardenborough, who started his career driving on his PlayStation.
Mark Rylance as Maurice Flitcroft in The Phantom of the Open, another stranger-than-fiction sports story recently made into film
Archie Madekwe and David Harbor in Gran Turismo, based on the story of Jann Mardenborough – a racing driver who started driving on his PlayStation
Sky Sports said a total of 4.7 million people watched the WDC final on Wednesday night, while the peak audience of 3.71 million watched 'Cool Hand' Luke Humphries take the crown, a 143 percent increase on the event from last year.
It is the largest non-football audience Sky has ever recorded, taking over Formula 1 races and events such as The Ashes and the Ryder Cup.
Psychics at Sky, presumably aware that this year's championship would be one to remember, saw fit to send camera crews across the country to follow some of the WDC contenders ahead of the showdown with Ally This week's pally.
The series, which currently bears the emphatically direct title Darts, will be released later this year.
Production is by Dorothy St Pictures, who previously put together the critically acclaimed Disney+ series Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story.
Any potential deal would add to Littler's already bulging coffers after he left Wednesday's final with an unenviable consolation prize of £200,000 (possibly subject to tax).
He has already committed to spending part of his winnings on a new jacket and virtual currency for the FIFA sequel EA Sports FC.
Marketing experts predict that Littler could earn more than £40 million from commercial partnerships and sponsorship deals.
He already sells a range of licensed darts and flights; his official steeltip darts sold out before he even reached the final.