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The race to make a movie based on the life of John DeLorean has been a slog, not a sprint. During a span of nearly three decades, there have been books, TV movies, documentaries and a raft of failed feature projects and unproduced screenplays left by the side of the road.

Now producers Steve Lee Jones and David Permut think they have the vehicle that can reach the finish line, one fueled by a screenplay from an Emmy winner, the unearthing of 27-year-old FBI surveillance tapes, consulting agreements with DeLorean's brother Charles and his former lawyer and, perhaps most importantly, the only official involvement of his estate and its executor, DeLorean's fourth and final wife.

For years, the estate had spurned numerous overtures until Jones came calling. He was given an exclusive option in September 2009, according to attorney William Courtney, who represents the estate and executor Sally DeLorean.

The DeLorean sweepstakes just gained another entrant.

Nine/8 Entertainment, Evolution Entertainment and CAA agent-turned-producer Michael Menchel are moving forward with the development of a feature about the life of carmaker John DeLorean. Thomas Fenton, who is repped by Apa and Evolution, wrote the screenplay.

Andrew Trapani and Brian Gilbert of Nine/8 are producing along with Andrew Wilson and Stephen Gates of Evolution. Menchel will serve as an executive producer on behalf of his Relevant Entertainment shingle.

DeLorean's only daughter, Kathryn, is partnering with the producers on the film.

"Other producers have asked me to back their projects on behalf of the DeLorean estate," Kathryn DeLorean said. "We felt this was the team to tell the right story the right way. This is the definitive John DeLorean movie. We wanted to ensure my father's story was handled properly; the headlines do not begin to tell the tale."

This new project...