Copyright Deadline
Actor John Turturro has gotten back behind the camera on Joe Torre (working title), a new documentary on the longtime Yankees manager and National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee of the same name. Hailing from Motto Pictures, MLB Studios, and Banijay America’s BD4, the film will take a look at Torre’s contributions to the national pastime as a player, manager, and beyond — work that culminated in him being named a nine-time All-Star, a National League Most Valuable Player Award winner, and a four-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees. It offers an intimate look at Torre’s journey from his Brooklyn upbringing to becoming one of baseball’s great players and respected leaders, the film combines new, candid interviews with Torre and key figures from his life, along with extensive archival footage from MLB’s library and original storytelling. It explores how personal challenges and family dynamics shaped his leadership style — one built on empathy, humility, and quiet strength. Over 12 seasons as Yankees manager, Torre led the team to the postseason every year, including six World Series appearances and four championships. He remains the only person in Major League Baseball history to record 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager. “Joe Torre’s lifelong journey to the World Series is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, through a changing landscape and turbulent times. There’s something deeply human about Joe Torre’s quiet strength,” said Turturro, a New York native. “In a time when men in sports hid their emotions behind toughness, Joe defied convention. His strength comes from compassion, his victories from understanding people. His journey from nervous child with an abusive father to an outstanding professional baseball player who was the MVP in 1971, and as a manager who was fired three times before taking the helm as the Yankees manager. After 4,272 games as a player and manager who never made the World Series, he took his first victory lap around Yankee Stadium in a thrilling World Series win against Atlanta.” Torre said, “It’s hard to imagine that a nervous Brooklyn kid who had low self-esteem could go on a journey like mine across more than 60 years. I once didn’t think I was going anywhere. But baseball gave me a place to hide — and ultimately the opportunity to find things in myself that I never knew were there. I am grateful that John Turturro, who witnessed the hometown dream I’ve been fortunate enough to live, is joining me to look back and tell the story in a personal way.” Motto Pictures’ Christopher Clements and Julie Goldman are producing the doc, with executive producers including Nick Trotta from MLB Studios, Dan Silver and Ryan Harrington from BD4, and Ken Scherer, who developed the project with the Torre family. Andrea Torre serves as co-executive producer.
