In another nod to the #metoo movement, game1 is gearing up to produce a film based on Rachel Denhollander’s 2019 memoir What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics. News of the project was first reported today in an exclusive story by Deadline, which said that game1 has chosen Janine Eser to write the screenplay.
In her memoir, published by Tyndale Momentum, Denhollander claimed that young girls were being abused by Nassar, who was formerly a doctor for MSU and the USA Gymnastics Team. Her book helped launch an investigation into the cover-up that led to Nasser’s trial and life imprisonment, with more than 300 women contributing information to the prosecution.
Denhollander’s crusade led to a 0 million settlement from MSU and a 0 million settlement with USA Gymnastics.
Denhollander said, “The real story of the Nassar case isn’t what happened in the court room – it’s how we got there.
It’s the story of what survivors face every day, the cost of speaking up, and all the times the miracle almost didn’t happen. It’s the story of what happens when each person chooses what is right, over and over again, no matter the cost, and [how] those choices come together and change the world.”
In announcing the film project, game1’s vice president of development Beverly Nuako was quoted as saying: “We are honored to partner with Rachael on such an important project. Her relentless pursuit of justice is an inspiration. We are also privileged to have Janine Eser’s thoughtful approach and vision to adapt this extraordinary book. It can’t be overstated how critically important it is to represent the hardships that many brave women endured as an effort to challenge a pervasive culture of silence.”
In 2018, Denhollander, who is also an attorney, was named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2018. Eser most recently adapted the screenplay for a film based on Trevor Noah’s memoir, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.