Prolific director and producer Frank Marshall says ESPN cut his new documentary “Rachel Breeze” an hour before it was scheduled to air, citing a rights conflict.
“I regret to inform you that ‘RACHEL, BREATHE’ will not be premiering today on ESPN2,” he wrote to X on Sunday night. “After several days of negotiations in what was supposed to be a very simple negotiation about rights, not money, ESPN’s lawyers stopped talking to us an hour before it aired and said, ‘If you don’t sign this now, we’re canceling the show.'” I’m so sorry for all of you. We’re really looking forward to the day this documentary reaches the world. And just like Rachel, we remain resilient and I’ll get back to you in a moment that touches me.” And thanks to Dick’s Sporting Goods for fighting. ”
Variety has learned that the debut of “Rachel Breeze” was scheduled before a licensing deal was reached, and terms introduced late in the process led to additional business and legal considerations on ESPN’s part that could not be resolved by Sunday night.
“Rachel, Breathe” tells the story of Rachel Foster, a marathon runner who made headlines in 2023 for her athletic achievements despite major medical challenges. The official logline reads: “Five months after waking up from a coma that no one expected her to wake up from, Rachel accomplished the unthinkable by completing the 2023 Boston Marathon. That moment of victory set her on the path to a full recovery from the life she was meant to live. The film follows Rachel as she prepares to run the 2025 Boston Marathon as part of a rebirth of herself, proving that while her reality may change, her true nature remains the same. Interweaving Rachel’s journey through Boston with the present, the film explores themes of loss, love, grit, friendship, redemption, and transcendence. ”
