In keeping with the grand tradition of sports stars crossing over to the big screen, pioneered by such masters of the dramatic craft as Michael Jordan, Hulk Hogan or Mike Tyson, now arguably the NBA‘s current most recognisable name is beginning the transition from court to set. LeBron James, no stranger to the deft creating of drama and tension himself, is taking his talents to Hollywood after scoring himself a role in comedy-guru extraordinaire Judd Apatow‘s next feature film.
Though we’re all more than a little peeved to learn that the film isn’t entitled “Space Jam 2,” the film does seem to be quite intriguing. Entitled Trainwreck the film is being directed by Apatow, and marks the first time he’s directed a film without also writing it as well. The script in this case has been penned by the gutbustingly hilarious and arguably fastest rising star in comedy, Amy Schumer, who also takes the lead role.
Plot details have been kept exceedingly under wraps, though Schumer did open a little about the film in an interview with Elle: “It’s about me. We start filming it in two weeks. Bill Hader plays my love interest, it’s an R-rated comedy for sure, and it’s you know, going to be like my show, or my stand up. I work at a men’s magazine and I’m just at that crossroads of no being a kid anymore. My behavior isn’t that cute anymore, it’s kind of catching up with me.”
The cast reads as a veritable parade of talent, including names such as Tilda Swinton, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn, Mike Birbiglia, John Cena, Barkhad Abdi, Ezra Miller, Vanessa Bayer, and Jon Glaser alongside Schumer and Hader.
Whether LeBron’s acting skills are a total slam dunk, or whether he’ll be fouled out of Hollywood remain to be seen.
In the meantime, for those of you unfamiliar with Schumer’s unique brand of comedy, or her beyond excellent sketch show Inside Amy Schumer, take a look at this clip of her interviewing a 106 year-old woman.
Photo: Mike Ehrmann via Getty Images.
via The AV Club.
