Two-time Oscar nomineeMichael Shannonhas been cast as Lakers ownerJerry BussinAdam McKay’s HBO drama pilot about the Showtime Lakers, which is now, understandably, untitled.
The series will depict Buss as a self-made millionaire whose success has only amplified his proclivity for risk. Buss redefines American sports, celebrity, and wealth by transforming the Lakers into a basketball dynasty, but his house of cards threatens to collapse on him – and the people he loves most.
McKay has previously castJason ClarkeasJerry West, the “cantankerous tortured genius of basketball,” per HBO. West ought to be the perfect man to build the Lakers into a dynasty, if only he could get past his own worst enemy – himself.
The HBO series is based onJeff Pearlman’s non-fiction book Showtime, which chronicled the personal and professional lives of the Showtime-era Lakers – a team that defined its era, both on and off the court. In addition to Buss and West, key characters coachPat Rileyand All-Star players likeMagic Johnson,Kareem Abdul-JabbarandJames Worthy. There aren’t many established Hollywood stars who are 7-feet tall, so McKay will be forced to cast either newcomers, shorter actors, or retired NBA players as the Lakers.
McKay will direct the pilot and executive produce alongsideKevin Messickunder McKay’s new, yet-to-be-named company.Max Borensteinwill serve as writer and executive producer, whileJim Hechtwill serve as co-writer and executive producer.Jason Shuman,Scott StephensandRodney Barnesroundsout the EP team. Additional casting is under way, and McKay is expected to start shooting the pilot in September. The series was previously titledShowtime, but seeing as Showtime is also a network that counts HBO as its chief rival, it made sense to change the title rather than confuse audiences.
Shannon has earned two Oscar nominations for his intense turns inRevolutionary RoadandNocturnal Animals, and he co-starred inGuillermo del Toro’s recent Best Picture winner,The Shape of Water. He’ll soon be seen inRian Johnson’s whodunitKnives Outand inAlfonso Gomez-Rejon’s long-delayed dramaThe Current War,which pairs him withBenedict Cumberbatch.
Shannon will also be seen in the indie movieEcho BoomerswithNick Robinson, andScott Teems’The Quarry, in which he stars oppositeShea Whigham. Shannon will soon begin lensingHoward Deutch’s romantic coming-of-age dramaSwing,which will find Shannon playing a Vietnam vet who takes over as the coach of a dysfunctional college crew team.
Next year, Shannon will star inSamuel Beckett’sWaiting for GodotoppositePaul Sparks(House of Cards). The actor has a long history with HBO, having starred inBoardwalk Empire,Ramin Bahrani’s filmFahrenheit 451, and the Duplass brothers' anthology seriesRoom 104. He’s represented by CAA, Wetzel Entertainment Group and Morris, Yorn.
