Synopsis:
A Latino teenager from East LA tries to make it big into Europe (Newcastle United and Real Madrid), starting out in the Premier League and eventually trying to qualify for the US (or Argentinian) national squad.    

Cast:

Kuno Becker, Stellan Skarsgård, James Nesbitt,     Alan Shearer , Kieran O'Brien,     Patrick Kluivert ,     David Beckham ,     Wayne Rooney

Director:
    Danny Cannon

Screenwriter:
    Adrian Butchart and Mike Jeffries

Producer:
    Lawrence Bender, Mike Jefferies, Matt Barrelle, Paul Tucker, Ted Morley and Andrew Eaton

  March 11th, 2006
Gah! Apparently some people told me about some forum postings where I mentioned Goal! would be released in March. Well, as of last month, that's what the press sites at Buena Vista said. Looks like we're looking at a mid-May release here. Apologies for the confusion.

  February 9th, 2006
So after a decent set of results in Europe, Goal!, part 1 is featured to come out in the US in March, distributed by Buena Vista. Watch this space for more information.

  September 30th, 2005
Goal! is OUT!!!! The much awaited debut for the movie is out. Check again later today for behind the scenes footage and more.

There's also a review already up at Sky Movies

  September 27th, 2005
More video clips, added that on. Enjoy!!!

Tons of stuff from BBC for the fans to enjoy.

  September 23rd, 2005
We got our hands on a special Q/A session with Kuno Becker. We hope everyone here will enjoy it.

Do you see any similarities in your own story to that of Santiago’s that you have used to bring him to life on screen?

Of course we are similar, we both have dreams and aspirations which we chase but what I love about acting is that you have the opportunity to play someone who is completely different. It is great to go to work and play a character who reacts in different ways and make it convincing – that is what being an actor is all about.

How have you approached Santiago knowing how his story will develop over the trilogy?

I see the character in different stages. The first film sees a simple guy from LA trying to follow his dreams of being a professional footballer. The second film sees him living his dream and the third film shows Santiago going back to basics. The films will chart a career of a footballer and how he reacts as a person to his changing life.

Do you think the hopes and dreams at the heart of this film will appeal beyond the world of football?

Yes this film is great because it is not just about football, it is really the story of a young boy following his dreams. The films show what is really like to be a footballer. It is not what you see on TV, in magazines and in the news, it is not all about what clothes you wear and what you drive, it really is hard work and I admire anyone who has the skill to be a great footballer.


How good are your football skills?

Well they are improving… My free kick has got quite good! The film has some great football scenes which have been choreographed and I do try my best but if you are looking for great football you want to look to the professionals in the film like Alan Shearer, Jermaine Junas and Kieron Dyer! I was so excited to be working on a film with so many great players, they make it look effortless but it took months of training for me to even come close to replicating their moves!

What additional training did you have for that aspect of your role?

I had 3 months of basic and intensive training with coaches, choreographers and trainers – it was a great opportunity to try something new as an actor. It would have been boring if I had been a great footballer from the get go, I viewed it as a challenge and I think I did well.

Did you pick up any injuries during the making of the film?

Yes I had so many injuries! My body is not used to it so I had stress fractures in both my ankles which meant I couldn’t do anything for 3 weeks! I broke my nose in one scene but Danny (the director) used that in the film – so I hope it looks realistic! Of course I also had general muscle injuries but I had so much fun shooting that I didn’t care!

Who was the best football player in the cast?

In the cast there are all the professional players for Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea to name a few who were amazing to watch in action. But in terms of actors I would have to say Alessandro.

Who was the worst football player in the cast?

Is it bad to say me?! I am really improving but I am never going to be as good as Beckham!

Who is your favourite all time football player and why?

Where do I begin? My team is Real Madrid so I admire Beckham, Zidane and Raul who are all in the film. Outside of that is Ronaldinho who is just a great player.

Which football team do you support?

Real Madrid and now of course Newcastle. I loved the city, the people and the game.

Did you find this movie daunting knowing that you need to please football fans as well as film fans?

Yes because we wanted to make it believable and I think we have been successful; we had some of the world’s best football professionals working on the film and helping us to make it look right. However, for me the film is more about the rise of Santiago as a man. I wanted to make sure that I expressed the characters emotions and that I made him believable – if the audience root for Santiago they will believe in the story and the football.

What was your favourite moment filming Goal! ?

I can’t pick one, it was great to go on set everyday and enjoy my work. I loved working with a team who are passionate about what they are doing and who strived to make a great film. I love acting and so this is my dream.

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  September 20th, 2005
Few updates today: Adidas commercials "The Impossible Field" now has a newer version including Goal! superstar, Kuno Becker. Link can be found Here .

Check back again for more updates.

  September 16th, 2005
Empire Online has a review of the Red Carpet Premiere of the movie.

  September 10th, 2005
Goal! coming out at the end of the month, expect a few reviews coming out, here's the first one by Telegraph.co.uk

  August 4th, 2005
Trailers added to the site, even though it's a month late, sorry people, took me a while to get them. Click Here

  August 3rd, 2005
Turns out that Boxer is going to be working on the film to create an identity. Boxer is a brand design consultancy firm.

  June 27th, 2005
Disney picks up Goal! Variety reports that Goal! will be released by Disney in North America. Icon Films will possibly take over Europe.

  June 8th, 2005
Go on vacation for two weeks and the world starts announcing everything in those two weeks. :)

Quick update on the movie Goal!, it seems to have made some progress, there's a teaser trailer up on the official website. Check out this section soon, lots moe stuff to come.

  March 24th, 2005
Late update regarding the movie. Filming has already begun, with Zidane, Beckham (yes, Beckham) and Raul all taking a role.

They were joined with Eriksson who is doing a cameo role in the film as well.

Shooting has resumed in Los Angeles.

  Jan 31st, 2005
David Beckham is now out of the Goal! movie. Real Madrid's new manager, Luxemburgo, nixed the idea that Beckham can participate in the venture, telling the superstar to focus on football instead.

  Jan 29th, 2005
durhambiker from IMDB.com reports that there is a scene for extras available:

Major Feature Film Newcastle Upon Tyne...

Date: Feb / Mar 2005

Appearance: Attractive People

Age: 18 - 34

Applicants Need to Reside within a 30 mile radius of Newcastle City Centre..!

Young & Very Attractive Supporting Artiste's Required for Night Club Scenes in a "Major Feature Film", to be shot in Newcastle Upon Tyne, late February early March 2005.

Anyone interested please contact:

Northern Professionals Casting Company (Newcastle.)

Their details are in the Agents Section (Northeast) of www.filmtvextra.com phone Helen quickly as this is being cast in the next seven days or so.

  Jan 25th, 2005
If you check out the official site, the image of the Diego Luna has been removed, Kuno Becker is in his place. That should clear up some major rumours out there.

  Jan 24th, 2005
Thanks to Emma, Ex-"Hollyoaks" British actor Jamie Dodd has been cast in the role of Santiago's Brother in "Goal!". - Source: [ Link ]

  Jan 19th, 2005
Correction, I meant the 21st of January there should be an update. Odd numbers always confuse me. :)

  Jan 10th, 2005
I'm putting this up late, but hey, better late than never. There's going to be an official press release in a few weeks, will keep everyone posted once it is up. Come back by the 19th to see further details.

  Dec 29th, 2004
There's been rumours for a while that Diego Luna is no longer a part of the Goal! trilogy. I chose to ignore it for a while, but Angel posed the question, so I thought of putting it up just in case it was true. Milk Shake Films have not returned any calls.

  Dec 07th, 2004
Courtesy of Angel, we get the following piece of news:

“The producers behind "Goal", the $100 million film trilogy which is planning for a release in Fall 2005, have contacted a London talent agency - Ethnics Artiste Agency in search for Latin American actors to join the cast of "Goal".

Ernesto Leszek, a young Mexican born actor from Monterrey represented by Ethnics, who made his stage debut off London West End in 2002 and in a number of independent British film productions, is to be considered for a part in "Goal". Only time will tell if the London based charismatic actor will be one of the lucky ones to perform along Diego Luna and a star cast of British footballers, including David Beckham, Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney as well as Beckham's fellow Real Madrid players Raul, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane.

  Dec 03rd, 2004
We find out the nationality of Diego Luna for part 3. He's going to be an Argentine representative in part 3.

  Dec 03rd, 2004
Release date for this game has been scheduled for August 2005, which makes more sense, put it with the beginning of the football season.

  Nov 9th, 2004
It's been confirmed that David Beckham is set to be in all three of the movies in this trilogy. Zinedine Zidane and Raul, Real Madrid teammates, are also set to appear in the film, and we might get additional Real Madrid players in the second part of the trilogy as many more prominent English players are there at the moment such as Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate.

  Oct 24th, 2004
Goal! is now slated for a August 2005 release.

  Sept 25th, 2004
Off the movie news, Mike Jeffries is currently undergoing a bid to buy his boyhood club, Liverpool. This could provide a distraction from his current project.

  August 19th, 2004
Peter Gansler of Adidas America says there might be potential tie-ins to the Three Stripes-backed soccer film Goal! for sponsored players like Szetela, Clint Mathis, Eddie Pope, Bobby Convey and Brad Friedel
(Source: Yahoo.com)

  August 19th, 2004
Didn't notice that there was an official site already released, they didn't have any information on Milk Shake Films nor Icon Films. Link is up.

  August 3rd, 2004
Danny Cannon is the new director for Goal! His credits include numerous episodes of CSI and "I know what you did last summer".

  July 7th, 2004
Goal! has been put on hold. Though not a surprise, this will definitely hurt the movie and the release date. Look for it to be pushed back a few months at the least.

  May 28, 2004
Michael Winterbottom has indeed been let go from the Goal! trilogy project, after his "shocking" British film, Nine Songs at the Cannes Film Festival. Mike Jeffries sees the departure more on the reason for "creative differences" where Jeffries wanted more drama whereas Winterbottom wanted an action movie. The rest of the cast and crew are believed to be the same, though O'Brien might be let off as well, as he starred in Nine Songs.

  May 27, 2004
It is rumoured at the IMDB.com message board that Michael Winterbottom has been sacked following his, very sexually explicit, movie released at the Cannes this month. Milk Shake Studios could not be contacted.

  May 19, 2004
Kieran O'Brien has been added to the cast as
Dizza Duthie.

  April 15, 2004
This was taken from toon-chat.co.uk.
"They said at half time that the "Goal" cameras will be filming the reserve match against the Mackems at St James' Park this Monday night. They want to get as many people in as possible so that they get some good crowd shots so it's free entry to everybody and not just season ticket holders as is normal. They are also going to film Santiago playing and scoring to put in the film..."

  April 14, 2004
Found an article that shows Diego Luna in training. According to the article, Newcastle United coach and West Allotment Celtic manager Terry Mitchell is in charge of training for the film crew. They are currently in training with Blue Flames Sporting Club in Benton, North Tyneside.

  April 09, 2004
James Nesbitt is signed to play a role in this movie. He will play the role of the player's agent where he will take him from his humble beginnings to the limelight in England. Some of Nesbitt's well known credits are "Waking Ned Devine" and "Bloody Sunday".

  March 29, 2004
Just to confirm things, St. James Park will be used as a backdrop for this movie. Stellan Skarsgård's role will be that of the team's manager. Portuguese Newcastle United star, Hugo Viana , is Diego Luna's double on the pitch.

  March 27, 2004
Stellan Skarsgård is said to be in the movie. Many of you will recognize this actor in smaller roles in popular movies in the past.

Also, this movie is slated for a February 2005 release.

  March 26, 2004
There we go, some more updates for you: Turns out that lead actor is going to be Diego Luna rather than Gael Garcia Bernal. What brought about this change is not clear.

Principal photography is going to be in April.

Mel Gibson's Icon will release the trilogy in the U.K. and Australia, and it is handling sales in all other territories including North America.

  March 18, 2004
As reported on Spanix.com, Michael Winterbottom has been signed to direct this movie. Also our hero's name is Armando. Shooting will begin in June in Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.

You can expect an "official" announcement sometime next week to the Newcastle fans.

  Dec, 19, 2003
UK's The Guardian reports that Newcastle United has indeed confirmed its spot for the main club for the movie. The movie may feature cameo roles from Alan Shearer and Sir Bobby Robson.

  Nov. 16, 2003
Variety.com has learned from Garcia, who is currently developing a movie in Spain, that he is yet to commit to Goal!

  Sept 30, 2003
Adidas is rumoured to be in the front running to endorse this movie, mostly because Nike hurt their chances by taking FIFA to court for the use of USA 2003 name.

  Sept 24, 2003
Real Madrid's David Beckham is rumoured to have a role and is close to signing.

  Sept 17, 2003
Gael Garcia Bernal is in talks regarding the lead role for the film.

  Sept 16, 2003
The film has the backing of FIFA, the governing body of world football, which has agreed to assign all of its licensing and trademark rights to the production, as well as linking the producers with the 15 sponsors of the 2006 World Cup, which will be the setting for the final film in the trilogy.

The first film is slated to have production costs of upto $30 million.

Official Site:

• Goal! Official

Movie Links

• Milk Shake Films
• Icon Movies

FootyMania Thoughts:

  Sept 2006  

Review

"Goal! The Dream Begins" is the first of the trilogy about a boy named Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker), who moves from Los Angeles to Europe to fulfill his dreams. The movie, directed by Danny Cannon (I Know What You Did Last Summer fame), features a mix cast from around the world in basically, what is a world sport.

The movie begins with Santiago in Los Angeles, where he plays part-time for a local neighbourhood team. He came there from Mexico as a child and spends much of his time as a laborer with his father trying to make ends meet. His unique talent catches the eye of a former scout who suggests bringing him across the Atlantic to try out with Newcastle United. Santiago takes up the offer much against his father's will. Once in England, Santiago faces quite an abundance of obstacles, especially for a sports genre film focusing on one player rather than a whole team. This includes women problems, cultural differences, dealing with his family back home, and trying to show that he is actually a pretty good footballer.

Despite the dramatic twists and turns of the movie, which pulls away from the game of football, it has its moments, and at times, they turn out to be more eventful than the games themselves. The other notable character in this movie was Gavin Harris (Alessandro Nivola), who plays a spoilt, rich striker who just joined Newcastle United earlier in the season (possibly during the winter transfer period). Harris turns out to be a savior for Santiago, one too many times for my taste, which took away some of the flair of Santiago's character.

The acting was by no means bad in the movie, in fact, along with the direction of the film and the mood Danny Cannon put into the film, it works out rather well. You won't be seeing Goal! winning any Oscars, but it's definitely not a bad movie to to watch at home.

The DVD features various segments from the first and second parts of the Goal! trilogy. This includes the "Behind the Pitch" feature, which shows how they went about filming the movie. They included interviews and showed some segments of Santiago playing for the Real Madrid team in Spain (his story continues in Spain along with Harris). Apparently the European version of the film includes the trailer of the second movie, but our North American version does not seem to have it. There's also a music video by Happy Mondays for "Playground Superstar" as well as "Golden Moments" from the FIFA World Cup, which is a nice touch considering that this is a FIFA approved film.

    

  Nov 9th, 2004  
Another update by all news agencies today, and it seems that there wasn't any real update except a confirmation that David Beckham has been signed on to star in this movie. What was a surprise however was that he's said to be in this movie for all three parts, which makes people wonder what his role is in the first part.

  Oct 24th, 2004  
Not sure if anyone has wondered about this or not, but it's rather surprising that Goal! doesn't have a subtitle of it's own (ala Star Wars had "A New Hope"). I doubt they going to let a Franchise title be dictated by just purely Goal! I, Goal! II, Goal! III. Might as well call the final Hattrick.

  Sept 27, 2004  
A teaser is up for Diego Luna's character's number on the official site, which is the #13.

  June 21, 2004  
Though not directly related to the movie, I thought I'd tell everyone who hasn't seen Diego Luna in movies to check out 'The Terminal' where his character is Enrique, the food vendor. I myself haven't seen this movie, and it might be a while since I will, as it's based on a real man's life who currently resides in Charles de Gaul airport in Paris, and it seems that a comedy is made over an unfortunate circumstance.

I'm quite surprised that another director has not been announced yet, and would not be surprised if this movie is going to be pushed back for perhaps a summer release, rather than February of 2005.

  May 19, 2004  
During the last two months of the season, you could see the film crews gathering footage from various games at Newcastle. There will be radio and newspaper cast calls for extra's so keep an eye out. If you hear of any and want to announce it, you can contact me and I'll post it up.

  March 29, 2004  
So quite a bit has happened in the last two weeks. Already there has been a casting change from Gael Garcia Bernal to another Mexican star, Diego Luna. Diego Luna's latest English movie is the sequel to Dirty Dancing. We also have the team manager announced, Swedish Stellan Skarsgård, whose filmography includes Good WIll Hunting. Rumour has it the budget for all three movies is in the range of $100 million. However, if we see a huge profit for the first movie, we can expect a bit more money poured into the sequels as well.

Filming is rumoured to have begun as well, the crew is said to have gone to Spain for the Newcastle United - Real Mallorca match, which Newcastle won 3-0. Though some sites say that filming will begin at the end of April, Film crews could be at various games for a variety of reasons, from capturing sound, to gaining footage of players in action.

  Oct 3, 2003  
Just to kill some rumours, people are saying that Wayne Rooney is starring in the movie Goal! This however is not true, nor is Everton seen as the front runner for the movie at the moment. However, as Newcastle United are not doing as well as they expected to be doing, there could be some changes to which team the story is based on.

  Sept 30, 2003  
With Adidas in the front running for this movie, we can easily eliminate many routes this movie could take. Newcastle is endorsed by Adidas, and so is Argentina endorsed by them. A second European team that is rumoured to be in the second part of this triloy is Adidas' Real Madrid rather than Nike's Barcelona. Also, it doesn't hurt that Adidas is one of the 15 official sponsors for the World Cup 2006.

  Sept 19, 2003  
Lawrence Bender portfolio includes producing Pulp Fiction, Resevoir Dogs, Any Given Sunday, From Dusk Till Dawn, and The Mexican. With so many surprise hits, it seems quite possible that this trilogy is what FIFA was looking for to make a Rocky like theme work for promoting football in the USA, just in time for the World Cup in 2006.

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Kuno Becker in Adidas' "The Impossible Field"
Kuno Becker about Goal!

Kuno Becker and cast filming a practice session