Rory Cochrane, Danny Burstein, Austin Aaron, Ta’Nika Gibson, Edwin Hodge, Terence Davis and Ja’Quan Cole have joined HBO’s upcoming sports drama series about the Los Angeles Lakers. The seven actors join an increasingly high-profile and star-studded series cast. The untitled project, ordered at HBO in December 2019, is based on Jeff Pearlman’s book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.”
The show chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Lakers, one of basketball’s most revered and dominated dynasties — a team that defined its era, both on and off the court.
Cochrane will appear as Jerry Tarkanian, the coach of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels; Burstein will play Vic Weiss, the manager and childhood best friend of Tarkanian; Aarn plays the hulking, lovable oaf Mark Landsberger; Gibson is Debbie Allen, a bright young star reaching new heights in her career; Hodge plays Ron Boone, a tough, crafty NBA veteran; Davis is Adrian Dantley, a stylish NBA All-Star destined for the Hall of Fame; and Ja’Quan Cole is hard-working NBA vet Ron Carter.
The project also stars Bo Burnham as Larry Bird, John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss, Jason Clarke as Jerry West, Jason Segel as Paul Westhead, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Adrien Brody as Pat Riley.
Rounding out the cast are Gaby Hoffmann, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Molly Gordon, Rob Morgan, Michael Chiklis, Sally Field, Spencer Garrett, Kirk Bovill, Delante Desouza, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Tamera Tomakili, Joey Brooks, Gillian Jacobs, Wood Harris, Tracy Letts, Julianne Nicholson, Jim Atkins, LisaGay Hamilton, Andy Hirsch, Brett Cullen, Lola Kirk and Sarah Ramos.
Cochrane is repped by Grandview and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher; Burstein is repped by BRS/Gage Talent Agency; Aaron is repped by Momentum Talent and Literary Agency and Silver Mass Entertainment; Gibson is repped by Vanguard Management Group and GGSS; Hodge is repped by Priluck Company, Paradigm Talent Agency and Ziffren Brittenham; Davis is repped by Aqua Talent; Cole is repped by Seven Summits Management and TalentWorks.
Max Borenstein serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Adam McKay directed the pilot and executive produces through Hyperobject Industries. Kevin Messick of Hyperobject will also executive produce along with Jason Shuman. Jim Hecht co-wrote the story and will also executive produce. Scott Stephens will also executive produce along with Rodney Barnes.