Lebron James is taking his talents to your local multiplex. According to Deadline.com, James will co-star with comedian and actor Kevin Hart in "Ballers," a new comedy that was first in development way back in 2009.
Back then, Hart was not involved. Now, however, he'll star as James' brother in the film and rewrite the "Ballers" script, which was first typed out by Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz ("City Slickers") and then re-written by Peter Steinfeld. The plan now, according to Deadline.com, is to film the comedy next summer to coincide with James' off-season from the NBA. (He plays forward for the Miami Heat.)
Before getting too excited for "Ballers," fans should note that twice before the film has been delayed because of James' schedule. On July 2, 2010, Universal paused the film to allow James time during the off-season; six days later, he would sign with the Miami Heat, following seven years with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Nearly one year later, in June of 2011, "Ballers" was pushed again. The time off has apparently changed the concept of the film, at least in some respects. At the time of the 2011 stoppage, Variety reported this as the film's plot:
Story follows five guys who attend the LeBron James Adult Basketball Camp in Las Vegas, but end up dragging the phenom into their myriad life issues.
The new log line, per Deadline.com, is as follows:
He’ll then star as a man who lives in the shadow of his NBA superstar brother (James), but gets a chance to prove himself when he and some pals attend a weekend fantasy basketball camp in Miami
Whether James is still playing himself in the film, or simply a character who also happens to be an NBA superstar, is unclear. More on "Ballers" can be found at Deadline.com, but expect some news about its production, in one way or another, to break again in June or July of 2014.
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