A documentary about WNBA player Maya Moore and her fight to free Jonathan Irons, a man wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for burglary and assault, is on the way. ESPN Films, in partnership with Robin Roberts’ Rock’n Robin Productions, is now in production on the project, a press release announced. Roberts is executive producing and Rudy Valdez (“The Sentence”) is directing.
The as-yet-untitled doc will focus on Moore’s “unwavering faith,” her bond with Irons, and her decision to step back from basketball in order to “pursue justice both to prove his innocence and inspire activism in others.”
Moore and Irons met through prison ministry in 2007. Moore first publicly spoke about their connection in 2016, when she began advocating for law enforcement and legal reform in the wake of several police shootings of unarmed Black men. Irons’ conviction was overturned earlier this year and he was released this summer. While working together, Moore and Irons became a couple. They announced their marriage yesterday.
“I am so hopeful that this intimate look at our journey for justice will inspire all to believe that change [and] justice are possible,” said Moore. “The heart of this story is that when we see [and] value the people suffering around us we can start to become the community we know we were meant to be. I’m more convinced than ever that love [and] sacrifice will lead us to the win for humanity.”
The Moore doc “will feature a treasure trove of never-before-seen archive and uncommonly intimate verité,” the press release specifies. More details are to be announced.
Moore played for the Minnesota Lynx from 2011-2018. She was named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2011 and WNBA Most Valuable Player in 2014. She is a four-time WNBA Champion, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and two-time FIBA World Championship Gold Medalist.
Roberts recently extended her partnership with Lifetime, and is developing four new projects with the network, including “The Mahalia Jackson Story.” The “Good Morning America” anchor previously exec produced Lifetime’s TV movie “Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story.” Recently, Roberts hosted “Frontline Heroes,” a news special spotlighting the women healthcare workers, teachers, researchers, and more working on the frontlines of COVID-19.
