Story of the Minnesotan who founded Rollerblade being developed as a movie

Scott Olson is the subject of a planned independent film.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
June 23, 2025 at 6:11PM
Minnesotan Scott Olson showed off one of his inventions, the SkyRower, at his Waconia farm in 2017. (Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Scott Olson, the Minnesota native who made a significant contribution to one of the hottest trends of the ’80s, is getting the Hollywood treatment.

The co-founder of Rollerblade, which helped make inline skating go mainstream, said that a movie about his life is in the works.

A feature biopic is in the development and fundraising stages, with plans to eventually shoot in Minnesota, he said.

Olson, 66, hopes that his story will help inspire a new wave of inventors.

“Rollerblading was never just a trend. It was a spark,” said Olson, a St. Louis Park native who lives on a farm in Waconia. “We started with a wild idea in Minnesota and now we get to pass the torch to the next generation of skaters, builders and dreamers.”

The movie is being directed by fellow Minnesotan John Lacy, whose latest project, “Everyone Asked About You,” won the grand prize best feature at the 2025 Golden State Film Festival in Los Angeles.

“This isn’t just a film,” said Lacy, who in addition to being a director has over 100 acting credits that include appearances in “American Horror Story” and “Chicago Fire.” “It’s a celebration of Minnesota creativity, grit and the kind of visionary thinking that changes culture.”

Lacy is currently in the casting process for the film.

about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

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