The Next High-Profile Soccer Documentary Takes On the “Wagatha Christie” Saga

Do you like behind-the-scenes sports drama? This one has plenty of it.

The Rooneys
Coleen Rooney, Wayne Rooney and barrister David Sherborne, who represents Mrs Rooney, leave the Royal Courts of Justice following the sixth day of the high-profile trial dubbed "Wagatha Christie" case.
Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Sometimes the most interesting sports stories center on what’s taking place off the field. In recent years, various soccer teams have been the subject of insightful documentaries that take into account all facets of a club’s performance, with the All or Nothing series zeroing in on some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Other series have drawn accolades for focusing on teams’ struggles, such as the two seasons to date of Sunderland ‘Til I Die. And recently, Welcome to Wrexham put the spotlight on the fifth-division Wrexham AFC — and the two famous actors who bought the team.

Having strong personalities at the center of a show is crucial, whether you’re making an inside look at a sport or a wide-ranging legal drama. And it sure sounds like the next big soccer docuseries will involve aspects of both of those genres.

According to an article at The Hollywood Reporter, Disney+ is preparing a three-part series titled Wagatha Christie for release. At the center of the project is the controversy that erupted when Coleen Rooney (whose husband is former Manchester United star and current D.C. United manager Wayne Rooney) began looking into who had been leaking stories about her to the media — and zeroed in on Rebekah Vardy (whose husband is Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy).

The Athletic has a lengthy account of the whole situation, which included Rooney making judicious use of social media to determine who had been sharing private information — and a subsequent lawsuit from Vardy. The Hollywood Reporter mentioned that makers of the forthcoming series interviewed Rooney for the project, offering an inside look into the proceedings.

With Ted Lasso reportedly ending after its third season, viewers seeking more behind-the-scenes drama in the world of soccer won’t lack for other options. And the saga of Rooney and Vardy’s conflict very much falls into the “truth is stranger than fiction” category. It should make for memorable viewing.

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