Laura Wilson
Luke Wilson (center) and supporting actors who played Fort Worth's Mighty Mites football team in the film, "12 Mighty Orphans"
The buzz keeps growing around the upcoming Fort Worth-made film "12 Mighty Orphans" as it approaches premiere day on June 11. To celebrate its release, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the movie through an upcoming exhibit.
The museum is collaborating with the Fort Worth Film Commission to present "Twelve Mighty Orphans – Behind the Scenes: Laura Wilson," a collection of props from the movie and behind-the-scenes images taken by Texas-based photographer Laura Wilson (who, as many know, is also mother to the film's star, actor Luke Wilson). Laura Wilson is also an honoree in the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.
The exhibit runs June 8 – Aug. 8. The movie will premiere June 11, first in Texas and New York, before opening nationwide on June 18.
The Sony Pictures Classics film tells the true story of Depression-era football team, the Mighty Mites — a scrawny group of orphans that would reach the Texas state championships thanks to the innovative playing schemes of coach Rusty Russell, played by Luke Wilson. Also starring in the film are Martin Sheen and Robert Duvall, with Ty Roberts directing.
The movie was shot in Fort Worth in 2019. The Fort Worth Film Commission, a division of Visit Fort Worth, helped bring the production to the city.
“This special exhibit captures the magic of the movies and this very Fort Worth story,” Fort Worth film commissioner Jessica Christopherson said in a statement. “This type of community support will help us welcome even more production to the city.”
More information about the Cowgirl Museum is available at cowgirl.net.
