Nike Football Presents “The Switch” Film Featuring Ronaldo and Megan Rapinoe
Soccer popularity continues to grow and forge new paths of visibility. Now, more than ever, our heroes on the pitch can become our idols on the screen. Here is a new film with a plot (we have all seen before) — this time with a clever twist.
World famous soccer star switches bodies with an average youth player?
Nike Football – also known in our country as soccer – releases its latest short film titled “The Switch” ahead of the European Championships that kick off tomorrow at Stade de France in Saint Denis, France. The film features Cristiano Ronaldo along with a youth English player and his climb through the ranks of the English National Team with a ‘bit’ of Ronaldo’s skills to aid him along the way.
Soccer News: Nike Football has released its latest film titled “The Switch,” featuring Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Englishman Harry Kane and a short feature by U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Megan Rapinoe.
The film also features Raheem Sterling, Joe Hart, Chris Smalling, John Stones, Ross Barkley, Ricardo Quaresma, Andre Gomes, Jose Fonte, Cedric Soares, Vieirinha, Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, Sergi Roberto and Javier Mascherano.
Nike partnered with Wieden+Kennedy on the film to develop the longest brand film Nike Football has ever produced at 5:57 seconds. The film was directed by Ringan Ledwidge, who was also the director of Nike’s 2014 “Winner Stays” film.
The cinematographer for the film was Matthew Libatique, known for his film work on “Straight Outta Compton,” “Black Swan” and “Iron Man.” The short film also welcomes UK football announcer Jim Proudfoot who has covered more than 2,000 matches in his career.
Filmed in Spain, “The Switch” is the longest short film Ronaldo has done to date requiring five days of filming. The premise of the film involves the Portuguese star initially colliding with a young fan in the audience, which results in the two switching bodies. Gerson Correia Adua stars in the film as a 16-year-old boy who is an avid footballer from England.
The next morning – after the brief collision – both players wake up with in each other’s body with a glimpse at a completely different lifestyle that they are used to.
Ronaldo is struck with the life of a young teen and the necessity to climb his way back up the ranks of his new English country. Adua is hit with the hardships of what to expect as he jumps into a life of expectations set by the famous Portuguese star.
Whose trade is better? This is a great short flick to watch ahead of Euro 2016 – after all, what ball boy wouldn’t want to wake up as his hero Ronaldo and have the star’s mental prowess and skill help improve his playing on the field? And, what team do you think this boy plays for?
Ronaldo eventually makes its back to the main stage as an Englishman where he meets his old self. Adua and Ronaldo face off in an intense match that results in another collision between the two as both players are then transferred into their original bodies with a match still to play between the two sides that will be present at Euro Cup 2016.
For soccer fans who watched the Ronaldo Movie – this is a very different take on the famed soccer star.
Media Credit: Nike Football
