Matthew Dellavedova’s rise from Maryborough to NBA finals to be captured in Hollywood movie

MATTHEW Dellavedova’s meteoric rise from rural Victorian underdog to US basketball star has inspired a Hollywood movie.

Victorian producer Josh Howlett who has written a script for a movie inspired by the story of Matthew Dellavedova's rise from Maryborough to NBA basketball star. Picture: Alex Coppel.

MATTHEW Dellavedova’s meteoric rise from rural Victorian underdog to US basketball star has inspired a Hollywood movie.

US filmmakers are in raptures over Dellavedova’s journey from Maryborough to NBA championship contender and have embarked on a global search for stars to help bring the story to the big screen.

DELLY’S HOME TOWN REVELLING IN SUDDEN STARDOM

Hollywood executive Jason Shuman has signed up as lead producer on the film after previously working with the likes of Mark Wahlberg on Lone Survivor and Paul Rudd in the film Role Models.

Matthew Dellavedova’s rise from zero to hero coming to a screen near you. Picture: Getty Images

Actors such as Woody Harrelson and Nick Nolte are being sought out to star in the movie while an up-and-coming Australian actor is wanted for the role of Dellavedova.

Could Liam Hemsworth do Delly justice? Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne film producer Josh Howlett, 25, came up with the story three years ago after Dellavedova was plucked from the Australian Institute of Sport for a US college career.

Elwood’s Bobby Galinsky signed as screenwriter and executive producer thinking it was a good tale to that point.

But with Delly becoming a global star alongside LeBron James in the NBA finals this month the script has been dusted off and prepared for a different ending and a worldwide release.

“When I wrote it no one knew who Delly was,” he said.

“Now with everything that has happened the story might take a different direction ... a fairytale finish is what sells.”

The film will be shot in Australia and the US where Dellavedova became the all-time leading scorer for St Mary’s College in California, only to be overlooked in the NBA Draft.

He scrapped his way to the big time playing in the NBA summer league and burst on to the scene with a fighting spirit for the Cleveland Cavaliers when All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving was injured.

Howlett, who will also act in the film, said it had obvious Australian appeal but should also be popular globally as Dellavedova’s Cleveland singlet was recently the most popular seller in the NBA.

Clyde Boraine, who appeared in Chris Lilley’s Angry Boys, and Chris Kirby, whose credits include The Matrix Reloaded and Iron Sky, are believed to have already agreed to be in the film.

Dellavedova’s fairytale will today either continue of come grinding to an abrupt halt when Cleveland hosts Golden State in game six of the Finals.

The Cavs need to win to push the series to a winner-takes all seventh game.

“Even if they don’t win the finals his name is going to be around for a long time,’’ Howlett said.

Victoria will have a winner regardless of today’s NBA Finals result with Melbourne’s Andrew Bogut playing for Golden State.

WHO SHOULD PLAY DELLY?:

* Lincoln Lewis;

* Dan Spielman;

* Liam Hemsworth;

* Jesse Eisenberg;

* Kick Gurry.

Twitter: @rolfep