The life of acclaimed baseball legend Shohei Ohtani will be shared with his fans for the first time in the upcoming film, Shohei Ohtani: Beyond the Dream. The project, which is the first official documentary about the Los Angeles Angels’ ace pitcher and homerun slugger, will offer an unprecedented intimate look into his career, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The movie will be stream on ESPN+ in the U.S. and on Disney+ internationally. The film is set to be distributed on Nov. 17.
Beyond the Dream was directed and edited by Toru Tokikawa. It’s believed that the filmmaker included Ohtani’s first in-depth interviews about his background and how he trained to become one of the most impressive two-way baseball players since Babe Ruth in the feature. The documentary also includes interviews and appearances by the coaches, players, managers, mentors and baseball heroes that have influenced the Angels star.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my journey in this documentary,” Ohtani said in a statement that has been released by Disney. “Hearing the stories shared by my childhood heroes has been truly inspiring. I hope this documentary stands as a testament to the importance of resilience, passion and self-belief in the pursuit of excellence.”
Beyond to Dream chronicles Ohtani’s entire career, from his humble beginnings in rural Japan through his journey to becoming a two-way player. The movie also shares the start of his professional career with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and his long-awaited transition to the MLB with the Los Angeles Angels.
After an injury hampered his ability to play in the 2019 and 2020 seasons and raised questions about his potential, Ohtani overcame the doubts with his historic 2021 season. He became the first player in MLB history to score over 10 home runs and steal over 20 bases as a hitter.
The athlete also has more than 100 strikeouts and 10-plus pitching appearances. He also won the American League’s most valuable player trophy. Overall, he has had statistically historic seasons the past two years.
While describing Beyond to Dream, Disney said, “Ohtani reflects on his career to date, sharing how he decided to play for the Angels; how he came up with his now famous dream board; what it was like winning the 2023 WBC with Japan; how he overcame past injuries, and so much more.”
Ohtani is currently recovering from a torn UCL in his throwing arm. As a result, he won’t be able to pitch in the 2024 season. But with his dual-hitting skills, he’s expected to be one of the most coveted players in baseball when he becomes a free-agent this offseason.