April 16, 2025: Actor Matthew Modine, widely recognized for his role as Dr. Martin Brenner in Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things, is stepping into the producer’s chair for a new documentary series centered on the life and legacy of acclaimed Scottish director Michael Caton-Jones.
Titled Michael Caton-Jones: This Broxburn Boy’s Life, the documentary will chart the remarkable journey of Caton-Jones, who rose from humble beginnings in the small mining town of Broxburn near Edinburgh to become a prominent director in Hollywood. Among his many career highlights, Caton-Jones is best known for giving a young Leonardo DiCaprio his breakout role alongside Robert De Niro in This Boy’s Life (1993).
Modine, who previously collaborated with Caton-Jones on the 1990 war drama Memphis Belle, will produce the series alongside Adam Rackoff through their production company, Cinco Dedos Peliculas. The project is being developed in partnership with Scottish production outfits Two Rivers Media and Partickular Films.
The series will include interviews with Caton-Jones himself and feature insights from actors and filmmakers he has worked with over his 40-year career, including David Puttnam, Tim Roth, Letitia Wright, Ron Perlman, Ewen Bremner, and David Hayman. Audiences can also expect rare archival footage and behind-the-scenes content, offering a deeper look into the director’s artistic process and life.
“I’m excited to have this opportunity to introduce Michael Caton-Jones’ body of work to a new audience while also reminding folks what a terrific filmmaker he is,” Modine told Deadline.
Alan Clements of Two Rivers Media added, “Not only is this film the story of how a young, working-class man became one of the most exacting directors in the business, but it also tells how Hollywood embraced this driven Scot.”
The documentary will be directed and produced by Joseph McLean of Partickular Films, with music composed by Emmy winners Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly. Although a release platform has yet to be confirmed, the series is already generating buzz for its inspiring narrative and star-studded contributors.