UsstarWinston Dukeis set to play the lead in Apple’s basketball-themed drama seriesSwagger, which hails from NBA superstarKevin Durant, the streamer announced Tuesday.
Inspired by Durant’s own experiences,Swaggerexplores the world of youth basketball, and the players, their families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, as well as opportunism and corruption. Duke will play a former star player who finds a second act as a youth basketball coach – a role he seems well-suited for. I’m just hoping that his character, Ike, is moreCharles BarkleythanMuggsy Bogues, because a little edge would go a long way here.
Durant will executive produce along with Imagine’sBrian Grazer,Francis Calfo,Rich Kleimanof Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures, and writer-directorReggie Rock Bythewood, who will also serve as showrunner onSwagger. The series is slated to start production this month, and will likely debut on Apple TV Plus at some point next year, when the Durant is expected to return to the court as a member of the New Jersey Nets after sitting out the entire 2019-2020 season.
Swagger hails from Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios, while Imagine’sJames Seidmanand Thirty Five Ventures’Sarah Flynnwill serve as executives on the project. There hasn’t really been a good basketball-themed TV show, and now it looks like we’ll get two of them, asAdam McKayis also prepping an untitled HBO series about the Showtime-era Lakers that will starJohn C. ReillyandJason Clarke.
Duke broke out playing M’Baku in Marvel’sBlack Panther, and he briefly reprised his role inAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame. He also starred oppositeLupita Nyong’oinJordan Peele’s hit horror movieUs, and he’ll soon be seen alongsideMark WahlberginPeter Berg’s Boston-set crime dramaWonderland. He’s represented by CAA.
