Hollywood will be coming to AFC Wimbledon as a film about its rise from non-league to top flight and back again has caught the eye of directors.

Author and producer John Green, who has a stand at the Cherry Red Records stadium named after him, is backing the project which will chart the club’s formation in 2002, subsequent trials on Wimbledon Common, and rapid rise to the Football League via five promotions in nine years.

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Club spokesperson Chris Slavin insists this is not an April Fools.

Because it is in its early stages, there are no actors assigned to the roles yet, but rumours are flying around as to who could get the parts.

Perhaps Vinnie Jones could make another appearance.

The movie will be produced by AFC Wimbledon friend and backer Mr Green, Rosianna Halse Rojas, and Temple Hill Entertainment.

The project, in association with Fox 2000, is in its early development phase, and reports say the studio will shortly be appointing a writing team to start telling the story.

Simon Wheeler, of the independent supporters group, said: “The story is a proper romantic football drama.

“A lot of films tried to re-create this, but didn’t get there. "They usually have a Disney-esque ending where the local kid scores the winning goal at his local club.

“This is a true story, a rollercoaster.

“It could be interesting.”

Mr Green has described it in a blog post as ‘the greatest sports story never told’.


He said: “Most of my professional life has been devoted to telling stories for and about teenagers.

“But after my novels The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns were adapted into movies, I pitched the producers (Temple Hill) and studio (Fox 2000) of those movies a somewhat different story, about the greatest underdog sports story you’ve never heard, starring a bunch of middle-aged people with absolutely no athletic talent.”

Matthew Breach, chairman of the Dons Trust which owns AFC Wimbledon, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to tell a great story and we are delighted that it is being produced by a great story-teller, our friend and staunch supporter, John Green.”

Read John Green’s full blog post here.