Adidas, Puma Family Feud Inspires Hollywood TV Series

A new television series is being developed to dramatize the intense sibling rivalry between Adolf "Adi" Dassler, founder of Adidas, and his brother Rudolf "Rudi" Dassler, who established Puma. The series, supported by Hollywood producer No Fat Ego and endorsed by the Adidas family, will explore their joint management of a family footwear business before their split during World War II, a division that still affects their hometown of Herzogenaurach. Renowned screenwriter Mark Williams, known for the Netflix series Ozark, is leading the project using family archives and memorabilia to shape the narrative. The show will address the sensitive topic of the brothers' involvement with the Nazi Party in the 1930s and how their respective wartime experiences impacted their lives and businesses. Described as a "Succession-type" multi-generational drama, the series will also highlight Adidas's historical connection to American athlete Jesse Owens and the broader socio-political context of the era. Producer Niels Juul, notable for collaborations with Martin Scorsese, was drawn to the story for its rich historical and familial complexities.