Peacock will debut the LeBron James biopic Shooting Stars as part of their 2023 releases
Based on the kid from Akron, Ohio, the LeBron James biopic Shooting Stars has officially been announced by NBCUniversal and is set to premiere on the Peacock streaming service next year. The studio, LeBron James, and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company signed a first-look production deal in 2020 with this film serving as the first output of that four-year deal.
Based on Buzz Bissinger and LeBron James’ co-written 2009 book Shooting Stars, the biopic will take the viewers back to the NBA superstar’s high school years. It tells the story of a close group of friends who overcome the obstacles of growing up in the inner city and battling personal challenges both on and off the court.
A number of Academy Award nominees, including Rachel Winter (Dallas Buyers Club) and Terence Winter (The Wolf of Wall Street), as well as SpringHill Company (Space Jam 2), are co-producing the LeBron James biopic Shooting Stars. With James’ help, the director of the Netflix original Beats, Chris Robinson, will direct the film.
According to reports from WKYC and WTAM, the film began shooting in Northeast Ohio on April 18, with film crews sighted in Beachwood and Cleveland Heights locations. Filming is planned to follow through June and is estimated to generate $25.5 million in revenue for the local economy.
“When you grow up in Akron, Ohio, you already feel like no one cares about you too much,” said James. “And the only people that really care about you are the ones from that town. When you are in certain community centers, in certain gyms, you look for inspiration—people who came before you, people who were already there.”
While there hasn’t been an exact release date confirmed, the LeBron James biopic Shooting Stars is slated to debut in 2023.