Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Bay teaming on Rwanda biking movie

Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Bay are in early talks with Paramount to produce a movie about the Team Rwanda biking team.

Friday, June 05, 2015
Team Rwanda at Shyorongi during last year's Tour du Rwanda. (Timothy Kisambira)

Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Bay are in early talks with Paramount to produce a movie about the Team Rwanda biking team.

DiCaprio is producing the untitled project through his Warner Bros.-based Appian Way and Bay through his Bay Films. At this point, DiCaprio is not attached to star and Bay is not directing.

Orlando von Einsiedel, who directed Oscar-nominated gorilla documentary "Virunga,” is attached to direct. DiCaprio is an executive producer on "Virunga,” released last year.

Leonardo DiCaprio (L) and Michael Bay. (Internet photo)

The Rwanda bike project focuses on Jonathan Boyer, who became the first American cyclist to race in the Tour de France in 1981. He finished 12th in 1983, becoming well known for large quantities of nuts and fruit he ate, along with his intense religious beliefs.

Boyer pleaded guilty in 2000 to 10 counts of felony child molestation and was sentenced to a year in jail and five years probation. He began bicycle racing again after completing his probation and sought redemption by living in Rwanda — where he and his wife run the Team Rwanda cycling team and work with the Project Rwanda relief agency, which focuses on providing bicycles and other aid to Rwandans.

Team Rwanda member Adrien Niyonshuti, who lost six brothers in the 1994 genocide, competed in the 2012 London Olympics in the cross-country mountain bike race and has opened his own cycling academy.

News about the movie project was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.