“Even just seeing what a difference it’s made having him involved in our project, I would say yeah,” Paul Scanlan told People at the film’s Los Angeles premiere Monday of Kelce’s debut as executive producer.
“He’s such a likable guy, and he’s a good actor. I mean, he’s proven that; he’s been in some good material, and he’s a good producer.”
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8Scanlan reiterated that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 35, “made a difference” in the dark comedy and excels at “getting attention on a worthy project.”
“He’s a giving person; he’s very Midwestern that way,” he added. “I feel like he wants to do purposeful projects. And having him involved has helped us achieve our mission, getting this film out to more people where it can really make a difference.”
Scanlan said he was “so grateful” to have Kelce help the movie “gain the level of attention that it deserves.”
“It’s an independent film. Having Travis involved has made a really huge difference in allowing the film to kind of bat above its average weight,” he explained.
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8Kelce did not attend Monday’s premiere and has not been spotted since the Chiefs lost the 2025 Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this month, but Page Six heard he and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, have jetted off on a romantic vacation.
The NFL star has, however, raved about his “incredible experience” working on “My Dead Friend Zoe” and how “proud” he was to be a part of a story about the “strength, resilience and leadership of women in the military.”
“My hope is to continue working on meaningful projects like this — stories that entertain, inspire and make a real impact,” he said in a statement last week.
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8The film, which tells the story of a veteran grieving the loss of her friend and fellow soldier, marks the first time Kelce has worked as an executive producer.
However, the athlete is not unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, as he has acted in Ryan Murphy’s “Grotesquerie” series and the upcoming film “Happy Gilmore 2” in addition to hosting “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?”
Friday’s theatrical release of “My Dead Friend Zoe” comes as fans are eagerly waiting to see whether Kelce retires from football this year.
The three-time Super Bowl champion previously said he was “kicking everything down the road” and taking his time to figure out his future.
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8“I’m not making any crazy decisions, but right now, the biggest thing is just being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches, understanding that there’s a lot goes into this thing,” he said on his “New Heights” podcast after the Feb. 9 Super Bowl loss.
“I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back then it’s going to be something that is a wholehearted decision; I’m not half-assing it. I’m fully here for them. I think I can play — whether or not I’m motivated and it’s the best decision for me as a man, as a human, as a person to take on all that responsibility.”
Kelce reportedly has until March 14 to decide whether he will continue playing with the Chiefs through the 2025-26 NFL season.
