NFL star Ray Davis’ difficult but ultimately inspiring journey through the foster care system as a boy in San Francisco will soon be a Hollywood movie.
“Breakaway Ray,” budgeted at $10 million, is scheduled to film in San Francisco in February 2027. The project has qualified for both a $2.45 million California Film Tax Credit and for the recently expanded Scene in San Francisco Incentive Program, the city’s film commission confirmed to the Chronicle on Wednesday, May 13.
“We’ve met with the ‘Breakaway Ray’ team and are excited to support this San Francisco story,” Film SF Deputy Director Sofia Alicastro said. “The production will create jobs for our local workforce, generate business for local merchants and vendors, and showcase our beautiful city on screen.”
To qualify for the Scene in San Francisco incentive program, productions must film at least five full days and base their production office in the city, and spend at least $250,000-$500,000 locally.
Davis, 26, is an NFL first team All-Pro kick returner and running back for the Buffalo Bills. He was born and raised in San Francisco but entered the foster care system because his mother struggled with addiction and his father was incarcerated.
The turning point in Davis’ life, according to the script, came when he met a young Google employee who became his mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The movie, which is to be directed by Gary Fleder (of the “Reacher” Prime Video series) focuses on a 9-year-old Davis during that critical period.
“It’s been a blessing to just even put this thing together and to understand my story can really impact a lot of different lives,” Davis said on the podcast “One Bills Live.” “I don’t want to just impact football players or just the youth. I want to be able to impact everybody.
“I realized how much mental health is important. What I learned about myself throughout this whole thing was it’s OK to be vulnerable.”
The film has the support of both the Bills and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
“Mentorship has been proven to be one of the most powerful ways to change the trajectory of a young person’s life — and Ray’s story is an impactful example of what happens when young people, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to dream bigger and realize their potential,” Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Adam Vasallo told the Hollywood Reporter, which first reported the news.
Davis has started his own nonprofit, the Beat the Odds foundation, which is “dedicated to empowering foster youth and underserved communities by providing resources, mentorship, and opportunities to help them overcome adversity and achieve their dreams,” according to its website.