Adrien Brody will be stepping onto the court for his next role.
The Oscar-winning actor has been cast in the new HBO series about legendary basketball coach Pat Riley, according to a Tuesday report from Variety.
New Yorker Riley worked with superstars Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ best era in the Eighties.
Smart casting: Adrien Brody will be stepping onto the court for his next role. The Oscar-winning actor has been cast in the new HBO series about legendary basketball coach Pat Riley, according to a Tuesday report from Variety
Pat is now 75-years-old and Adrien is 47-years-old.
Riley is considered one of the best coaches of all time. He also is known for his Hollywood image as the former player slicked back his hair and wore Armani suits on game day.
The drama series will focus on Pat’s time as the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s during the dominant ‘Showtime era’ which was known for an ‘exciting run-and-gun style’ of basketball.
There was also the fast break and the no-look pass, which was meant to excite the audience, bringing a more up-tempo beat.
The early days of fame: In 1982 he was Head Coach of the LA Lakers; seen with player Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers
Before he coached, he was a player: Riley #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to Head coach Bill Sharman during an NBA basketball game circa 1973 at the Forum in Inglewood, California
This era also included bands and dancing girls for entertainment purposes as owner Gerry Buss was inspired by dance clubs.
And there will also be a look at the personal lives of the players.
Riley led the Lakers to four NBA championships and unprecedented superstardom.
He was named NBA Coach of the Year three times (1989–90, 1992–93 and 1996–97).
He had range too: He is the first North American sports figure to win a championship as a player, as an assistant coach, as a head coach, and as an executive, and in various roles has reached the NBA finals in six different decades.
Dashing: Riley is considered one of the best coaches of all time. He also is known for his Hollywood image as the former player slicked back his hair and wore Armani suits on game day. Seen in 1986
Working: Riley talks to Byron Scott #4 during an NBA game at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California in 1987
The series is based on Jeff Pearlman’s non-fiction book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.
The screenwriter is Max Borenstein and Adam McKay directed the pilot.
Also in the movie are John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss, Jason Clarke as Jerry West, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gaby Hoffmann as Claire Rothman and Hadley Robinson as Jeanie Buss.
Rounding out the series is DeVaughn Nixon as Norm Nixon, Molly Gordon as Linda Zafrani, Rob Morgan as Earvin Johnson Sr., Spencer Garrett as Chick Hearn, Kirk Bovill as Donald Sterling and Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper.
There is also Stephen Adly Guirgis as Frank Mariani, Tamera Tomakili as Earletha ‘Cookie’ Kelly and Joey Brooks as Lon Rosen.
Brody won the Academy Award for best actor for his starring role in The Pianist.
A good fit: Also in the movie are John C. Reilly, left in 2018, as Jerry Buss, right
The actor and the athlete: Quincy Isaiah, left, will be playing iconic Magic Johnson
He is currently filming an untitled murder mystery for Searchlight alongside Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell.
His next project to be released is the Marilyn Monroe based series Blonde for Netflix which stars Ana de Armas.
And he has a role in Wes Anderson’s new film, The French Dispatch.
Then there is the TV series Chapelwaite for Epix.
Brody has also starred in King Kong with Naomi Watts and Midnight In Paris with Owen Wilson.
At a game: Brody attends a game between the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center March 2010 in Los Angeles
