12 Mighty Orphans (2021)

***12 Mighty Orphans*** is a 2021 American sports film which was directed by Ty Roberts from a screenplay by Roberts, Lane Garrison and Kevin Meyer. It is based upon the non fiction book *Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football* by Jim Dent. The book is based on the Masonic School for Orphans in Fort Worth, Texas.

The film stars Luke Wilson, Vinessa Shaw, Wayne Knight, Jake Austin Walker, Jacob Lofland, Levi Dylan, Robert Duvall and Martin Sheen. The film was released in the United States on June 11, 2021 by Sony Pictures Classics.

## Shooting

* Filming was from October 7th, 2019 - November 25th, 2019.

## Cast

* Luke Wilson - Rusty Russell
* Vinessa Shaw - Juanita Russell
* Wayne Knight - Frank Wynn
* Martin Sheen - Doc Hall
* Jake Austin Walker - Hardy Brown
* Scott Haze - Rodney Kidd
* Levi Dylan - Fairbanks
* Jacob Lofland - Snoggs
* Rooster McConaughey - Pop Boone (as Mike 'Rooster' McConaughey)
* King Orba - Remmert
* Treat Williams - Amon Carter
* Larry Pine - President Franklin D. Roosevelt
* Lillie and Josie Fink - Betty
* Slade Monroe - Wheatie
* Preston Porter - Dewitt
* Ron White - Sheriff Red Wright
* Woodrow Luttrell - Leon Pickett
* Jacob Audirsch - Scott McCall
* Gavin Warren - Young Rusty Russell
* Michael Gohlke - Crazy
* Bailey Roberts - Miller
* Tyler Silva - A.P. Torres
* Manuel Tapia - Carlos Torres
* Austin Shook - Ray
* Sampley Barinaga - Chicken
* Natasha Bassett - Opal
* Carlson Young - Annie
* David Lambert - UIL Member
* Lane Garrison - Luther Scarborough
* Robert Duvall - Mason Hawk
* Austin Robert Russell - Maywood (as Austin Russell)
* Kellen McAlone - Poly Kicker
* Aaron Beck - Referee (Poly Game 1)
* Lucy Faust - Wanda Sealy
* Jeff Swearingen - Earl
* Lee Ellis - Referee (Poly Game 2)
* Keath Kibbey - Big Poly Player
* Kelly Frye - Young Mary Jane
* Zach Rose - Pinkney Russell
* Heath Freeman - Coach Cox
* Brian Lafontaine - Referee #2
* Scotty Sayers - Highland Park Coach (as Scott Sayers)
* Robert Henry - Referee Highland Game
* Troy Dungan - Amarillo Reporter
* Robert Musgrave - Mineral Wells Coach
* Jake McAlister - Burly Assistant
* Hal Jay - Radio Announcer
* Matt Herring - Reveler
* Kelly Dealyn - Secretary
* Breckyn Hager - Greathouse
* George Young Jr. - Amarillo Coach (as George Young)
* Gil Prather - Mason Band Leader
* Angelique De Luca - Sister Cora
* Harry Hudson - Dr. Worley
* Michael Lockwood Crouch - Movie Theater Announcer
* John Anthony Torres - Announcer (as John Torres)

**Rest of cast listed alphabetically:**

* Tami Carter - Highland Park Football Fan (credit only)
* Jack Michael Doke - Young George
* Kyle Ament - Football Fan (uncredited)
* Nathan Anderson - Football Fan (uncredited)
* Robert Branden Anderson - Football Player (uncredited)
* Miguel Andrews - Masonic Shriner (Trumpet Player) (uncredited)
* Angieguinn - Football Fan (uncredited)
* Josie Arsenio - Orphan (uncredited)
* Braden Balazik - Orphan (uncredited)
* Jordyn Barrera - Orphan (uncredited)
* Dave Bass - Townfolk / Football Fan (uncredited)
* Ryan Bijan - President's Aide (uncredited)
* Alex Bilbrey - Homeless Kid (uncredited)
* Nash Bland - Opposing Football Player (uncredited)
* Stephen Bouldin - Highland Park High School Football Coach (uncredited)
* Keegan Bouton - Homeless Kid (uncredited)
* Jason Bremer - Delivery Driver (uncredited)
* James Broadwater - Press Box Reporter (uncredited)
* John Lawton Brown - Orphanage Staff Member (uncredited)
* Simply Phillip Brown - Cook (uncredited)
* Julia Gaddy Bryant - Nurse (uncredited)
* Arthur Calcaterra - Reporter (uncredited)
* Madison Calhoun - Orphan (uncredited)
* Jordyn Cantrell - Jerry (uncredited)
* Rachel M. Carothers - Townsfolk (uncredited)
* Kevin Carter - Reporter (uncredited)
* Carlton Caudle - Referee (Championship Game) (uncredited)
* Cody Cazares - Photographer (uncredited)
* Gabby Clark - Orphan (uncredited)
* Paula Cochran - Homeless Woman / Football Fan (uncredited)
* John Confer - Dad Who Adopts Orphan Kids (uncredited)
* Terrie Cooklin - UIL Supporter (uncredited)
* Carole Conner Davis - Townsfolk (uncredited)
* Daniel B. Davis - UIL Member (uncredited)
* Lance De Los Santos - UIL Coach (uncredited)
* Maybree Deleon - Orphan (uncredited)
* Berkan Dincer - Daniel (uncredited)
* Michelle Rose Domb - UIL Supporter (uncredited)
* David Eaton - District Attorney (uncredited)
* Bryan Fernandez - Orphan (uncredited)
* Adam Fisher - Amarillo Football Player (uncredited)
* Steven Foradori - Priest (uncredited)
* Gregory Fountain - Press Box Reporter (uncredited)
* Kolbe Garza - Homeless Child (uncredited)
* Christina Gonzalez - Football Fan (uncredited)
* Jeffery Gray - Amarillo Football Coach (uncredited)
* Jett Green - Mary Jane Russell (older) (uncredited)
* Laura Griffin - Mighty Mites Fan (uncredited)
* Casey Grisham - Young Orphan Boy (uncredited)
* Cooper Justin Grisham - Young Orphan Boy (uncredited)
* PaulaSu Grisham - Football Fan / Mom (uncredited)
* Angela Hansen - Newspaper Purchaser / UIL Supporter (uncredited)
* Phil Harrison - Referee (uncredited)
* Ben Hicks - UIL Supporter (uncredited)
* Jeremy Hockman - Reporter (uncredited)
* Mia Jacob - Homeless Teen (uncredited)
* Lyn Jagger - UIL Parent / Football Fan (uncredited)
* Trinity Johnson - Blue Dress Orphan (uncredited)
* Justin Kenyon - Football Player (uncredited)
* Racquel King - Orphan (uncredited)
* Michael Lambert - Hobo (uncredited)
* Kady Lin - Football Fan (uncredited)
* Amelie Lopez - Homeless Child (uncredited)
* Reggie Lussier - Football Fan (uncredited)
* David McReynolds - Orphanage Orderly (uncredited)
* Isabella Michels - Homeless Teen / Football Fan (uncredited)
* Shelby Nicole Miguez - Orphan (uncredited)
* Danny Miller - UIL Supporter (uncredited)
* Kinley Moody - Young Orphan Girl (uncredited)
* Dean Morgan - Highland Park Fan (uncredited)
* Ella Morrow - Homeless Teen (uncredited)
* Erica Muse - PHS Cheerleader (uncredited)
* Jeff Neisz - UIL Member (uncredited)
* Trenton Oneal - Poly Football Player (uncredited)
* Violeta Ortega - Cheerleader (uncredited)
* Virginia Puga - Orphanage Staff (uncredited)
* John Louis Quiroz - Opposing Football Player (uncredited)
* Nicholas Reed - Jersey Boy (uncredited)
* Jacob Quinn Salinas - Orphan (uncredited)
* Shellie Erin Sampugnaro - Fan in Stands (uncredited)
* Barbara Shelley - Football Mom (uncredited)
* Shawn Stoker - Football Fan (uncredited)
* Stan Taylor - UIL Football Coach (uncredited)
* Trent Tidmore - Football Fan (uncredited)
* Shanna Toft - Football Fan (uncredited)
* Victoria Paige Watkins - Orphan (uncredited)
* Grant V. Young - Orphan Boy (uncredited)