NBA superstar LeBron James’ production company has announced a new partnership with the History Channel to bring the story of legendary Native American athlete Jim Thorpe to life in a forthcoming documentary.

The project marks an expansion of SpringHill Company’s existing collaboration with the History Channel, focusing on highlighting lesser-known historical narratives that celebrate diverse figures that have significantly impacted society.

Cheyenne and Arapaho filmmaker Chris Eyre will direct “Jim Thorpe,” the working title for the documentary. Eyre’s filmography includes the 1998 Sundance Film Festival audience award-winning film “Smoke Signals” and the recently renewed AMC series “Dark Winds.”

Thorpe, born near present-day Prague, Oklahoma, was a member of the Sac and Fox Nation. He rose to national prominence for his exceptional athletic abilities across various sports, solidifying his place as one of the greatest athletes ever.

“With these documentaries, we want to share those meaningful moments and figures in history that matter with a whole new generation and continue to empower and inspire through storytelling,” James said in a statement.

“LeBron and The SpringHill Company have been steadfast creative partners with The History Channel and we are excited to team up with them again to expand our storytelling footprint,” said Eli Lehrer, executive vice president and head of programming for The History Channel. “Together, we are committed to shining a light on diverse narratives that broaden our view of the world, enrich our knowledge of society, and cultivate a new generation of history lovers.”

Thorpe secured two gold medals at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, but also garnered recognition as a two-time college football All-American. He finally received full recognition for his achievements in 2022. Strict amateurism rules of the era led to his medals being stripped due to playing minor league baseball for pay. Decades of appeals followed, with the International Olympic Committee eventually awarding him duplicate medals in 1982. However, it wasn’t until much later, on the 110th anniversary of his victories, that the official record was corrected.

Thorpe also became a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and played professionally in Major League Baseball for six seasons.

After his death in 1953, Thorpe’s widow, Patricia, approached Times News writer Joe Boyle with the suggestion of uniting the two towns, bringing her husband’s body there, and renaming the consolidated town Jim Thorpe. It would be a fitting tribute, she said, and memorial to her husband as well as a drawing card to attract guests to the area. The two towns united in 1954. On Memorial Day 1957, Thorpe was laid to rest in a 20,000-pound red granite mausoleum paid for by a special “Nickel A Week” fund.

The “Jim Thorpe” documentary is slated to be part of a three-part series produced by SpringHill Company for the History Channel. The first documentary, titled “Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics,” has already been announced and will focus on the legendary African American athlete’s historic victory at the 1936 Berlin Games.