Before he retires at the end of this season, NBA star Dwyane Wade will be the subject of a new documentary based on his life as a pro athlete.
Imagine Documentaries is partnering with the three-time NBA champion for a film chronicling his basketball career and life off the court, the company’s president Justin Wilkes announced Wednesday.
The film will be directed by Bob Metelus, who is also producing alongside Wilkes, and Imagine Documentaries EVP Sara Bernstein. Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard will serve as executive producers alongside Wade’s production company 59th & Prairie Entertainment.
Metelus is Wade’s long-time cinematographer, and he had behind-the-scenes access to Wade’s life, shooting the film over the course of 10 years and focusing on his “Last Dance,” or his final year in the league. Wade announced he intends to retire after the 2018-2019 NBA season.
“I’m looking forward to sharing this very personal documentary that peels back the layers of my emotional sixteen season journey with all of its twists and turns, and peaks and valleys,” Wade said in a statement. “It has been a roller coaster ride and the never-before seen footage will show my fans how I’ve made my own way throughout this incredible adventure.”
Wade was born in Chicago and spent the bulk of his career playing alongside LeBron James and Chris Bosh for the Miami Heat, where he won three NBA championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013. He won the NBA MVP in 2006 and is a 13-time all-star.
“The opportunity to tell a high-stakes personal story that spans a decade using purely verité material is a documentarian’s dream,” Wilkes said in a statement. “The fact that the story belongs to one of the greatest athletes of all time is cinematic kismet. We’re honored to be working with Dwyane and Bob on creating a film that will entertain and inspire.”
Imagine Documentaries slate includes the Bryce Dallas Howard documentary “Dads,” the Ron Howard directed “Rebuilding Paradise” for National Geographic Documentary Films and the docuseries “She The People” with Sarah Jones. The division recently teamed up with Apple to produce a slate of feature documentaries and docuseries, under an exclusive, first-look deal.
Imagine Entertainment and 59th & Prairie Entertainment are both represented by CAA.