
Actor Michael Chiklis takes on the role of Mike Flynt, in "The Senior."
The streets of Haltom City don’t usually buzz with Hollywood magic. Yet, on an unassuming day at Birdville Stadium, under the familiar Texas sun, a different kind of story was being told. One about redemption, football, and the audacity to dream big — even when the world says your time has passed.
This wasn’t the glitz and glamour of an A-list star strolling through Fort Worth, stealing selfies and headlines (possibly attached to a Taylor Sheridan project). No, this was a tale of grit and heart, unfolding six miles outside downtown Fort Worth in a place where the air carries the faint hum of high school football legends. Here, a film crew turned a small-town stadium into a cinematic stage for “The Senior,” a movie that, much like its story, refuses to be ignored.
At its heart is Mike Flynt, played by Michael Chiklis (“The Shield”), a man who at 59 years old decided he wasn’t done. Kicked off his college football team decades earlier for a mistake he never forgave himself for, Mike discovers a loophole — one last year of eligibility. So, he goes back. Back to school, back to the field, and back to facing the ghost of his younger self. It’s a story that’s as much about touchdowns as it is about tackling generational trauma, strained relationships, and what it means to be a man in a world that keeps moving forward. At least that’s how the film was described in Headline.
Rod Lurie (“The Contender”) directs with an eye for the quiet moments that make the big one's sing.
The cast? It’s stacked. Mary Stuart Masterson brings depth as Flynt’s wife, Eileen. Rob Corddry, always a delight, adds levity. And then there’s Brandon Flynn, James Badge Dale—names you’ll know soon if you don’t already.
But what sets “The Senior” apart isn’t just its stellar lineup or its heartfelt script by Robert Eisele (“The Great Debaters”). It’s the story itself. Mike Flynt’s journey isn’t just about football; it’s about finishing what you started, no matter how long it takes. It’s about Sul Ross State University, where Flynt’s real-life comeback happened, and the pride of a community that now gets to share its story with the world.
Behind the scenes, there’s a dream team making this happen. Producers Mark Ciardi (“The Rookie,” “Invincible)”, Justin Baldoni (“It Ends with Us”), and Manu Gargi (“The Peanut Butter Falcon”) bring their love for underdog stories. Meanwhile, Wayfarer Studios and Allen Media Group are gearing up for the film’s national release in March 2025. The premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival already proved it — audience cheers, tears, the works.
For Flynt, it’s surreal. “I never dreamed anybody would care about an old guy playing college football,” he told Sul Ross State University Athletics (SRSU) in a 2022 article. But that’s the thing about stories like his — they remind us why we love the movies in the first place. They’re a little bigger than life, but just close enough to feel real.
The film isn’t just about Flynt’s journey —i t’s also a spotlight for SRSU and the Alpine community, bringing their story to a national stage.
"I think it's going to be fantastic for my school, the alumni that participated. It's going to reenergize their love for our school. I'm excited about that," Flynt said.