Miami Heat star LeBron James will make his feature film acting debut in Ballers, a project that will team him with comedian Kevin Hart.
Ballers will be written by Hart and Joey Wells, Chris Spencer and Harry Ratchford, reports Deadline, which first reported the news. It is a Universal and Imagine Entertainment co-production, with Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Michael Rosenberg producing.
Hart will play James’ brother, whose life is overshadowed by James’ success on the basketball court. In the film, Hart’s character will get to prove himself when he goes to a weekend basketball fantasy camp in Miami.
According to TheWrap, Ballers has been in the works for a few years, but it stalled when James and the Heat lost the 2011 NBA Finals. Since then, the team has won two straight championships, so it might be easier for James to take some time off during the upcoming offseason to make the film. Production should start next summer.
Hart and James are also set to executive produce with Kim Roth and Maverick Carter.
Hart recently appeared in Think Like A Man and his next film is Universal’s Ride Along with Ice Cube. He’s also completed the About Last Night remake and Finally Famous with Chris Rock.
image: NBC