Jason Sudeikis and Jeremy Irons join Race

Jason Sudeikis and Jeremy Irons are to star in ‘Race’.

The ‘Horrible Bosses’ funnyman and ‘The Borgias’ star have joined the cast of the upcoming Jesse Owens biopic which is to be directed by Stephen Hopkins, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Up-and-coming actor Stephan James will take on the role of black racing legend Owens, who won a record-breaking four Olympic gold medals in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany during the rule of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.

Focus Features – who own the US distribution rights – described the movie as ”an enthralling film about courage, determination, tolerance and friendship and an inspiring drama about one man’s fight to become Olympic legend”.

Sudeikis has signed on to play Owens’ obsessive coach Larry Snyder – who coached athletes who set 14 world records and won eight Olympic gold medals – while Irons will play head of the American Olympic committee Avery Brundage, who fought to have the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin.

Hopkins will direct from a script written by Anna Waterhouse and Joe Shrapnel and will also produce alongside Kate Garwood via Totally Commercial Films, Jean Charles Levy for Forecast Pictures and Luc Dyan of ID+.

Sudeikis recently starred in ‘We’re the Millers’ and is currently filming the male lead in ‘Sleeping with Other People’ while Irons is to portray Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler Alfred in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’.

‘Race’ will begin shooting on July 24 in Montreal, Canada and on location at the Olympic stadium in Berlin.