Travis Kelce is continuing to expand his horizons off the football field with his latest gig as an executive producer.
Kelce, 35, worked behind the scenes of the new movie My Dead Friend Zoe starring Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris. Written and directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, the film debuted at South by Southwest last year and hits theaters on February 28.
“Being part of My Dead Friend Zoe as an executive producer has been an incredible experience,” Kelce told People in a statement on Wednesday, February 19, noting that My Dead Friend Zoe “tells a compelling story and shines a light on the challenges our veterans face.”
The tight end added that he feels “proud to be a part” of the movie’s team. “My hope is to continue working on meaningful projects like this — stories that entertain, inspire and make a real impact,” he continued.
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My Dead Friend Zoe is a dark comedy that follows Merit (Martin-Green) as she battles PTSD after the death of her friend and fellow Army veteran Zoe (Morales). Kelce praised the project for how it “tells a powerful story and puts two strong female characters at the forefront,” celebrating the work of the lead actresses.
“Sonequa and Natalie bring depth and authenticity to their performances, highlighting the strength, resilience and leadership of women in the military,” he said.
Hausmann-Stokes, meanwhile, told the outlet that Kelce was an “incredible” addition to the project. “While our schedules didn’t align for him to visit set or meet the cast, it was clear from the outset that Travis signed on because of his support for the military and veterans,” the filmmaker noted. “Everyone on this film — from the leads, to our 90 percent real veteran cast, to the crew, producers and army of investors that made the film possible — was doing it for social impact and greater causes. It was an honor to have Travis among our ranks for those same reasons.”
Kelce has been a top player in the NFL for more than a decade, joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013. He’s won three Super Bowls with the team, but the Chiefs faced an uphill battle against the Philadelphia Eagles in this year’s championship. Kelce reflected on his team’s lackluster performance after the game on February 9, telling reporters that the Chiefs “couldn’t find that spark” that they needed to win.
As speculation swirled around Kelce’s future in the NFL, the athlete revealed on an episode of his “New Heights” podcast that he wouldn’t be “making any crazy decisions” right away.
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“I think I’m gonna take some time to figure it out,” he said on February 12. “I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it’s gonna be something that it’s a wholehearted decision and I’m not half-assing it. I’m fully here for them and I think I could play, it’s just whether or not I’m motivated or it’s the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility.”
Kelce has already made a name for himself outside of pro football, dabbling in acting and other entertainment gigs. He starred on FX’s Grotesquerie, which debuted last year, and joins Adam Sandler in the upcoming movie Happy Gilmore 2. Kelce also serves as the host on Prime Video’s Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?
When it comes to the next steps in his career — and in his relationship with girlfriend Taylor Swift — Kelce isn’t rushing. In Us Weekly‘s latest cover story, a source exclusively revealed that Kelce “was hoping he’d end his career on a high” and is “reconsidering” his future, adding, “Taylor will support him either way.”
