© 2026 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Making of 'Murderball'

'Murderball' directors Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro (right).
'Murderball' directors Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro (right).
Team USA star player Mark Zupan, right, in a scene from <i>Murderball</i>.
/
Team USA star player Mark Zupan, right, in a scene from Murderball.

The new documentary Murderball looks at the rough-and-tumble world of quad rugby -- otherwise known as "murderball."

Participants in the sport must have a combination of upper- and lower-body impairment. They compete in specially outfitted wheelchairs on a basketball court in four, eight-minute quarters. The film, which won the audience award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, begins with a look at the 2002 World Championship in Sweden.

Murderball focuses largely on Mark Zupan, a top-rated player and the spokesman for Team USA. Dana Adam Shapiro co-produced and co-directed the film. He is a former senior editor for Spin Magazine and founder of Icon magazine.

Zupan and Shapiro speak with Fresh Air host Terry Gross.

Copyright 2022 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air.

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.