George Clooney-Produced Ohio State Abuse Doc Gets Date, Trailer From HBO

HBO’s documentary about a sexual abuse scandal in the Ohio State University athletic department has a premiere date.

The premium outlet will debut Surviving Ohio State, which counts George Clooney among its producers, on June 17 (it will also stream on Max). The film features several survivors of abuse at the hands of Dr. Richard Strauss, an Ohio State athletics doctor from 1978-98, telling the stories of what happened to them and how they have tried to hold the university accountable for Strauss’ actions.

HBO has also released a trailer for the documentary; watch it below.

Emmy and Oscar winner Eva Orner (Taxi to the Dark Side, Out of Iraq) directed the documentary and produces with Clooney, his Smokehouse Pictures partner Grant Heslov and David C. Glasser of 101 Studios. The film is based on a 2020 Sports Illustrated story by Jon Wertheim that detailed the allegations against Strauss, including those by former All-American wrestler and UFC champion Mark Coleman, who is also featured in the documentary. Other Ohio State athletes interviewed in the film include Adam DiSabato, Michael DiSabato, Will Knight, Al Novakowski, Rockey Ratliff, Dan Ritchie and Mike Schyck.

Wertheim is an executive producer of Surviving Ohio State along with David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Ron Burkle, Corey Salter, Colin Smeeton, Marc Rosen and HBO’s Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Bentley Weiner. Smokehouse Pictures and 101/Sports Illustrated Studios produce.

Surviving Ohio State has been several years in the making. Clooney and Heslov announced the project (then conceived as a docuseries) in 2021. HBO and director Orner signed on in June 2022.