How did an All-American gymnast at UCLA become one of the most sought-after stunt performers in Hollywood?
On the eve of the release of Marvel Studios’ highly-anticipated film Black Widow, ESPN E60 will go behind the scenes to tell the story of Heidi Moneymaker, who helps bring the film’s title character to life as a stunt double for star Scarlett Johansson.
The half-hour E60 documentary “Moneymaker – Behind Black Widow,” narrated by Johansson, will debut on ESPN+ on Monday, July 5, a few days before the Friday, July 9, release of Black Widow simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets.
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Excerpts from the E60 story also will air on ESPN SportsCenter during the week leading up to the film’s premiere, and an eight-minute version will air on ESPN’s Outside the Lines on Saturday, July 10.
In Black Widow, Johansson reprises her role as the covert Avenger Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow, who confronts her past as a spy and assassin before becoming an Avenger. In playing the part, Johansson collaborates with Moneymaker, whose incredible athleticism and choreography as a stunt double elevates the character.
At UCLA, Moneymaker was a multi-time All-American as well as a Pac-10 all-around champion. The E60 special includes exclusive behind-the-scenes video to bring viewers the heart-pounding origin story of Moneymaker and how she and her sister, Renae, who also was a college gymnast, rose from their Santa Rosa, Calif., hometown to become two of the best stunt performers in the business.
The E60 special “Moneymaker – Behind Black Widow” was directed by 14-time Emmy winning producer Martin Khodabakhshian. Click HERE for additional behind-the-scenes information on the E60 project.
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 13.8 million subscribers.
Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $59.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).
About Marvel Studios’ Black Widow
The highly-anticipated theatrical premiere of Black Widow on Friday, July 9, will correspond with its release on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets.
Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
Joining Scarlett Johansson in the new feature film are Florence Pugh as Yelena, David Harbour as Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz as Melina. Black Widow —the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—is directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige.
About Disney+ Premier Access
Premier Access provides an opportunity for consumers to watch newly released theatrical films on Disney+ for an additional one-time fee and an active Disney+ subscription. Disney+ subscribers can get Premier Access for a one-time fee of $29.99 per movie paid directly on disneyplus.com or on supported platforms. Once Premier Access has been unlocked, subscribers can enjoy a cinematic experience at home through the Disney+ app on a wide range of mobile and connected TV devices, including gaming consoles, streaming media players, and smart TVs. Black Widow will be available to all Disney+ subscribers at a later date at no extra cost.
(Heidi Moneymaker gymnastics image courtesy UCLA Athletics)
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