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First Look Photos: Kurt Russell Coaches His (and Your) Heart Out in Touchback

The trailer for director Don Handfield's Touchback promised seemingly unprecedented strides in the inspirational time-travel football-film genre — just the gridiron flick for in our turbulent, troubled times. At its heart: Kurt Russell, doing that coaching thing he does so well while down-on-his-luck Brian Presley navigates his high school football travails all over again. Brand-new first-look pictures after the jump!

The official synopsis:

Former high school football star turned farmer and family man, Scott Murphy (Brian Presley) finds himself with a unique opportunity to revisit his glory days during the Ohio State championship game where he permanently injured his knee in a game-winning play. Given a second shot at his destiny, Scott seeks counsel from Coach Hand (Kurt Russell), Scott's longtime mentor on and off the field, to help him decide whether to let his fate unfold, or follow a path that will change his future.

Written and Directed by Don Handfield, Touchback also stars Melanie Lynskey (Up In the Air, Sweet Home Alabama, CBS' "Two and a Half Men"), Marc Blucas (Knight and Day, The Jane Austen Book Club) and Christine Lahti (Smart People, CBS' "Chicago Hope").

"Coach Hand"! Love it. Actually, keeping the hair and the sweater vest in mind, we should get Russell a Mike Ditka biopic posthaste. Just add a mustache, and bam.

Ahem. Anyway, Anchor Bay will open Touchback opens April 13. Enjoy!

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