Rock legend/film maker is in the process of making a movie about the Stanley Cup-winning Flyers. Think “Boogie Nights” meets “Rocky.”
Rob Zombie breezed into town Tuesday to catch the Flyers-Lightning game. The rock legend/horror film director wanted to witness the fanaticism of Flyer fans for himself in order to put the finishing touches on his script about the 1974 Stanley Cup-winning season.
Zombie hinted fans that wishing for a cameo in the movie should hang out at Rexy’s Bar starting in October when local filming starts. Zombie said two million fans showed up for the parade when the Flyers won the Stanley Cup. He promised the future film on the Broad Street Bullies will have plenty of blood and be the most violent that he has ever made.
“The script could be described as “Boogie Nights” meets “Rocky” except that this is a true story,” said Zombie. “This is the greatest sport story never told. Even now, everybody knows the Broad Street Bullies.”
The movie will not be another hockey comedy like “Slap Shot.” Instead, he has written a character-driven story.
“If I made a movie just about the game, it would only appeal to hockey fans,” he said. “People who liked “Rocky” did not necessarily like boxing. They cheered on the underdog.”
Zombie, an ardent hockey fan who swears he has a picture of himself at age 5 in a Boston Bruins sweatshirt, always wanted to be a goalie because he thought the masks were cool. In a meta moment, the rock star fondly remembered when he worshiped hockey players like music fans now revere him.
“I used to follow them all around. If they were opening a car wash, I was there,” said Zombie, who had season tickets to the Los Angeles Kings for six years when he lived in California.
While in town Zombie consulted with some players from that historic 1974 team, namely Bernie Parent, Bob Kelly and Gary Dornhoefer, to flesh out his story.
“They will rat each other out, but won’t tell me any secrets about themselves,” he joked.
Zombie will have a busy spring. His film, “Lords of Salem,” and new album, “Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor,” will be released in April.
