Napoleon Blandford grew up in a challenging environment during the early 1950s, raised solely by his mother. What followed was, well, kind of remarkable, to say the least.
He led his high school basketball team to an Indiana state championship and aimed to go pro after college. Unfortunately, a knee injury changed his plans. He shifted gears, went back to school, and started at the bottom of Wall Street. Eventually, he founded his own investment bank and played a role in major municipal bond transactions.
If this sounds like the kind of story you’d see on the big screen, you’re not wrong. Recently, it was revealed that Blandford’s life is being adapted into a film titled “Undefeated.”
According to Blandford, the film is currently in pre-production and set to begin shooting in January. He’s collaborating with Keith L. Craig, a retired U.S. Army sergeant major and former Disney executive, who now leads Porter Craig Film & Media in Beverly Hills.
For the part of Blandford, they’ve cast Keith David, a seasoned actor trained at Juilliard, who has an extensive filmography of over 400 roles, including classics like “Platoon” and, more recently, “American Fiction.”
David, at 69, appears to be a great fit for the character, sharing a striking resemblance with the 73-year-old Blandford. Both are tall and possess the build of past athletes.
“I’ve spent a lot of time discussing the complexities of the municipal bond market with Keith,” Blandford shared.
Blandford comes from East Chicago, Indiana, where his high school team claimed the Hoosier state championship in 1970. He landed a basketball scholarship to the University of Nevada. After a significant knee injury, he returned home, attended Purdue University, and then completed graduate studies at the University of Southern California.
He entered Wall Street during a time when African-Americans in investment banking were quite rare. After working for a prominent firm, he launched his own company, engaging in some of the biggest municipal bond deals throughout the 1990s and 2000s, particularly for California, which later became his home.
I have actually known Blandford for about 30 years now. He’s a friend, and I’ve even spoken at conferences hosted by his firm, Siebert Blandford Shank, from which he retired in 2016.
But that history didn’t hold me back from discussing his professional challenges, like a difficult split with a former business partner right as his firm was emerging as a leader in the municipal bond market.
I also highlighted his impressive comeback, collaborating with the renowned Muriel Siebert and longtime partner Suzanne Shank to regain their stature in city and state debt underwriting.
What really distinguished Blandford was his resilience and ability to adapt to changes in both business and career paths. It’s hard to imagine someone born with every advantage doing the same. I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing how this story translates to film.
