‘Unstoppable’ Director on Working With Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck on the Wrestling Drama and Bringing It to Toronto Amid Their Divorce: ‘Everybody’s a Professional’

As I delve into the captivating tale of William Goldenberg, I find myself utterly inspired by his audacious journey from the editing room to the director’s chair at the pinnacle of his career. His resilience and determination, much like the protagonist of “Unstoppable”, Anthony Robles, is truly awe-inspiring.


Many film directors have worked as editors, with Steven Soderbergh and Alfonso Cuarón being two well-known examples. However, William Goldenberg stands out as a top-tier editor who transitioned into directing during the peak of his editing career.

Filmmaker Goldenberg, known for winning an Oscar with “Argo,” is eagerly waiting to see if his mid-career risk will prove successful. His directorial debut, “Unstoppable,” is set to make its global premiere on September 6 at the Toronto Film Festival.

“He admits he’s usually late to the celebration. Growing up, he played ice hockey all his life, but at age 15, he was ridiculed because he wasn’t very good compared to his neighborhood peers. By the time he turned 20, however, he was playing college ice hockey while none of them were.”

The movie titled “Unstoppable” boasts an impressive lineup of stars such as Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle, Bobby Cannavale, and Michael Peña. This film narrates the inspiring true tale of Anthony Robles, a man born without a right leg who defied all odds to pursue his ambition of becoming a professional wrestler.

Following his 2013 Oscar victory, Goldenberg found himself in demand for directorial roles. However, his schedule was already filled with editing projects. Yet, the producer of “Unstoppable,” David Crockett, presented to him Anthony’s captivating true story, which sparked Goldenberg’s interest.

“It was Anthony who truly inspired me to take this path. He’s the kind of person who illuminates any room he enters. Witnessing the positive impact he had on others, seeing how people felt uplifted after speaking with him, I couldn’t help but feel that the world could benefit from more individuals like him.”

In October 2022, Goldenberg was engrossed in editing Ben Affleck’s movie “Air”. He shared the script with his collaborator from “Argo” at that time. Affleck took a liking to the project right away. Excited about working with Affleck again, Amazon agreed to produce their next venture titled “Unstoppable”. In this film, Affleck will be producing, while Matt Damon will serve as executive producer. Additionally, Affleck asked his wife, Lopez, to take on the role of Anthony’s mother in the movie.

Despite the movie being based on real life, it too experienced an unexpected turn of events. Just before the release of “Unstoppable”, Affleck and Lopez announced their separation. Lopez will grace the red carpet, but Affleck is unlikely to make an appearance at the premiere.

As for any awkwardness, Goldenberg says “not really.”

“He views everyone as proficient in their own right, considering it a personal matter. He admires them both, knowing Ben more intimately, but found Jennifer a joy to collaborate with. In his words, she was exceptional. As for their private lives, he believes they should be kept private.”

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2024-09-06 18:19