Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his scripted television debut as an executive producer and cast member in "Day Is", a new drama series set in the world of British football.
The project marks Ronaldo's first major role in a scripted television production, expanding his career beyond football and his previous appearances in documentaries and commercial campaigns. He will appear alongside former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry, while British actor Damian Lewis will lead the cast as Stanley Dalton, a fictional elite football agent.
The series is being produced by UR•Marv Studios, the production company Ronaldo co-founded with British filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, best known for directing the Kingsman and Kick-Ass film franchises.
Announcing the project, Ronaldo described it as "an exciting chapter" in his career beyond football.
"This is an exciting chapter for me, as I look ahead to new ventures," he said.
Vaughn has previously said the studio was created to challenge traditional approaches to film and television production.
"Cristiano has created stories on the pitch that I could never have written, and I look forward to creating inspiring movies with him," Vaughn told ESPN.
According to The Sun, filming is already under way at Barnet FC's stadium in north-west London, where Henry was recently seen on set. The newspaper also reported that rapper Dave, newcomer Carlotta Banat and Damian Lewis are among the cast members.
Created by football agent Darren Dein, who also serves as an executive producer, Day Is explores the high-stakes world of elite football through the perspective of a powerful player agent. Dein also represents Henry.
The Sun reported that the series aims to present a more realistic portrayal of the modern football industry than football comedies such as Ted Lasso. It also said the project is expected to attract strong interest from major streaming platforms, although no broadcaster or streaming service has yet been announced.
The drama is the latest addition to Ronaldo's growing business portfolio beyond football. While continuing to captain Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has expanded into media and entertainment through UR•Marv Studios.
Unlike his previous work in documentaries and advertising campaigns, Day Is marks Ronaldo's first significant involvement in a scripted television drama both in front of and behind the camera.
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