Frank Marshall Says ESPN2 Canceled Boston Marathon Documentary ‘Rachel, Breathe’ Just Before Airing
Documentary Rachel, Breathe Pulled from ESPN2 Schedule Last Minute
Frank Marshall, producer and director of the documentary Rachel, Breathe, has revealed that the film was abruptly removed from ESPN2’s schedule just before its scheduled premiere.
In a post on X, Marshall expressed his disappointment, stating, “I’m sad to report that Rachel, Breathe will not premiere on ESPN2 today. After several days of negotiations that should have been very simple and were not about money, but rights, the ESPN lawyers stopped talking to us an hour before broadcast and said, ‘sign it now or we are pulling the show.’”
Marshall emphasized the impact on Rachel Foster, the subject of the documentary, and the entire production team, who dedicated two years to the project. “I’m extremely disappointed for Rachel and John and the entire team that spent 2 years making this film about hope, love and friendship. We remain genuinely excited for the day this documentary reaches the world; it is simply not tonight. And just like Rachel, we remain resilient, and the moment I know where and when the premiere is, you will hear from me.”
Despite the last-minute changes, the documentary had earlier been announced for a 7 PM ET airing on ESPN2, with a repeat planned for after the Boston Marathon’s coverage. However, it does not currently appear on ESPN2’s schedule, although there are references to the timeslot in online searches. Efforts to obtain clarification from ESPN remain ongoing.
Rachel, Breathe is described as “an intimate exploration of the transformative power of running through the miraculous story of marathoner Rachel Foster,” who completed the Boston Marathon in 2023 just five months after awakening from a coma.
The film’s synopsis highlights the themes of resilience and recovery, stating, “Despite the victory of that moment and feeling like she was on the path to a full recovery of her life as it was, new challenges arise. The film follows Rachel, now preparing to run the 2025 Boston Marathon as a reclamation of self, to prove that though her reality has changed, her essence remains the same.” It delves into her journey, intertwined with themes of loss, love, grit, friendship, redemption, and transcendence.
Marshall directs the project under The Kennedy Marshall Company, with producers Aly Parker, Tony Rosenthal, and Joanna Forscher, who also serves as the writer. Executive producers include Rebecca Covington, Mark Rooks, Frank Igrec, and Alexandra Bowen, with Beatriz Browne as supervising producer and Ellie Vargas as associate producer.
