HBO's "Ballers" (Season 2)

[Akijama]

Ballers: Official Trailer (HBO) - YouTube

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is heading to TV full-time.

HBO has picked up to series Ballers, the dramedy starring the Pain & Gain alum, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Half-hour comedy Ballers examines the lives of a group of former and current football players.

The comedy hails from Stephen Levinson (Entourage), who penned the script and executive produces alongside Mark Wahlberg, Johnson, Hiram Garcia, Evan Reilly and Peter Berg, the latter of whom will direct the pilot. Dany Garcia is on board as a co-EP. HBO is producing the series with Wahlberg's Closest to the Hole Productions, Levinson's Leverage Entertainment and White Buffalo Entertainment.

Ballers continues the premium cable network's relationship with Levinson and Wahlberg, whose credits also include HBO vehicles Boardwalk Empire, How to Make It in America and In Treatment.

Johnson is no stranger to the sports world, having played college football before kicking off his World Wrestling Federation career and becoming one of the sport's best and most renowned personalities.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...s-lands-680238

[Walts Ghost]

I like the Rock, so count me in.

[bsweetness]

Looking forward to this. Tremendous potential.

[McCrutchy]

Is that really going to be the title? It makes it sound like a teen comedy FX would foist on us...

[djariya]

Love the Rock. Cool that he's headlining a TV series, especially on HBO.

I have HBO, so I'm looking forward to it.

I wish it wasn't a sports themed TV series. But, I'm sure his charisma will make it work.

Since they won't start filming until later this year, I assume this won't premiere until early 2015 at the soonest.

Also, don't forget that Johnson has a new TNT reality series coming this summer.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

I like the Rock, so count me in.

Same here.

While I don't get HBO, I'll keep an eye out for a Blu-ray release.

[djariya]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Same here.

While I don't get HBO, I'll keep an eye out for a Blu-ray release.

Just ask a friend or family member who has HBO and borrow their log-in to use HBO Go. That's the best way to go than waiting until late 2015 or 2016 to watch this on home video.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by djariya

Just ask a friend or family member who has HBO and borrow their log-in to use HBO Go. That's the best way to go than waiting until late 2015 or 2016 to watch this on home video.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm alright. I watch a lot of TV between home video and when it airs, so I can hold off on some things.

[spanky87]

Does Mark Wahlberg actually contribute anything on the creative end in his executive producer role for all these HBO shows?

[djariya]

Originally Posted by spanky87

Does Mark Wahlberg actually contribute anything on the creative end in his executive producer role for all these HBO shows?

No, he's just a credited producer like a lot of actor/producers are. It's just a vanity credit with a bigger paycheck.

[Edword]

Count me in! And I'll probably be adding another HBO show to the list of BD releases I need to get

[Akijama]

Update:

HBO has ordered Dwayne Johnson's Ballers to series - the half-hour dramedy project we first alerted you to in May.

Johnson (an athlete himself - he played college football, and was a WWF star), will star in a series which centers on the lives of retired athletes living in Miami.

He'll be joined by Omar Benson Miller, John David Washington (Denzel Washington’s son in his first major acting role), Rob Corddry, Troy Garity, Donovan Carter, Jazmyn Simon, Taylor Cole and LeToya Luckett.

John David Washington, also a former college football player who had a stint in the NFL and has now turned to acting, following in his father's (and sister's) footsteps.

Also Donovan Carter, a former college football player as well, joins the cast as well.

Ballers is executive produced by Johnon's Pain & Gain co-star Mark Wahlberg, with Stephen Levinson (Entourage) penning the script and executive producing as well.

Peter Berg is directing the pilot.

By the way, there's also a comedy feature film titled Ballers on the horizon, which Kevin Hart has signed up to star in opposite NBA pro LeBron James, in a comedy feature, set up at Universal Pictures, with Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer and Michael Rosenberg producing. The film will follow a man (Hart) who really wants to be known as something other than the brother of an NBA superstar (James), and gets his chance to prove himself when he and some friends attend a fantasy basketball camp in Miami. Naturally, hijinx and hilarity ensue.

Ballers on the big and small screen, coming soon.

Johnson also has a new project set up at TNT titled Wake Up Call (working title), a reality TV series in which he'll lend a helping hand to everyday people who are facing enormous challenges in their lives.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowand...tt-others-star

[Akijama]

Trailer:

https://twitter.com/TheRock/status/586628824743325698

[jrsl76]

1st & 10: The Next Generation?

[djariya]

Bump

This premieres tonight on HBO. It's airing at 10pm ET/PT after True Detective.

Funny how The Rock has a big summer action movie in theaters right now and now this 30 minute comedy.

I believe this wasn't a huge commitment filming-wise and was only 10 episodes.

Looks good from the preview I saw.

[djariya]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...39edae23f8f267


For those unaware. Rashard Mendenhall, who used to play for the Steelers and retired from the NFL at age 26, is on the writing staff of this show.


The above link is an interview where he talks about transitioning from the NFL to becoming a TV writer.

[Agent Bond]

I know what I'm watching after work tonight. Do you smell...?

[MosHighDef]

this is basically Entourage hip hop culture style... no thanks.

[chris_sc77]

Looking forward to this very much.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by MosHighDef

this is basically Entourage hip hop culture style... no thanks.

But The Rock is nowhere near as annoying as anyone on Entourage.