From the dusty vineyards of Depression-era Fresno to the neon-lit skyline of Las Vegas, a poor Armenian boy named Kirk Kerkorian rises through grit, gamble, and grit to become one of America’s most visionary moguls—carving an empire in aviation and entertainment, while chasing the one thing he never had: security.

SYNOPSIS:

Kirk Kerkorian never asked to be a legend. Born to Armenian genocide survivors and raised in poverty on a grape farm in 1930s Fresno, young Kirk is taught two things: work harder than everyone else, and dream bigger than anyone dares. As his family loses their home to foreclosure and faces racism in rural California, Kirk vows to become so rich that no one will ever take from him again.

That vow becomes his engine.

From boxing rings to junkyards, from fixing cars to flying warplanes for the RAF, Kirk claws his way up. He teaches himself business through risk, hustle, and intuition. After barely surviving a transatlantic fuel-starved flight, he flips military planes for profit, launches his own airline from scratch, and ferries Hollywood’s elite to Vegas—where Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Frank Rosenthal become clients.

But it isn’t just ambition that drives Kirk. It's legacy.

Haunted by his family’s trauma and emboldened by their survival, Kirk reinvests his fortune into the Armenian community, lifting others as he rises. Alongside his sharp-tongued sister Rose, and later, his magnetic muse Jean Maree, Kirk transforms into a quiet force behind some of the most iconic ventures in 20th-century American capitalism—eventually buying into the Las Vegas Strip and reshaping it forever.

But success comes at a cost: broken marriages, endless legal battles, and the gnawing loneliness of being the outsider who “made it.” In the end, Kirk must reconcile the boy who lost everything with the man who now owns more than he ever imagined.

Dramatic Hooks & Themes:

• True Story with Emotional Power: Inspired by the real life of Kirk Kerkorian, one of the most successful yet least-known titans in American history.

• Generational Trauma: The legacy of the Armenian Genocide underpins every scene—informing Kirk’s hunger, mistrust, and deep sense of purpose.

• American Dream Reforged: Not just rags-to-riches, but a reinvention of identity through war, enterprise, and relentless self-belief.

• Sibling Bond: Kirk and his sister Rose are co-pilots in ambition and heart—a rare brother-sister business duo.

• Romantic Undercurrent: Jean Maree is more than a love interest—she’s the mirror to Kirk’s soul and a reminder of what truly matters.

Why It Works: The Immigrant’s Son is a sweeping, deeply human epic that captures the grit behind glamour, the soul behind success. With real-world resonance—especially within immigrant, Middle Eastern, and Armenian communities—it speaks to perseverance, loyalty, and quiet greatness. The script's tight scope (Fresno, Montebello, Vegas, LAX) and emotionally resonant scenes make it a mid-budget awards contender with both commercial and prestige appeal. It’s the kind of story Hollywood forgot—until now.

THE IMIGRANTS SON