Legendary Entertainment has won a bidding war for the spec script “Hustle,” with LeBron James’ Springhill Entertainment and Roth/Kirschenbaum Films producing, TheWrap has learned.
Dave Meyers will direct from a script byTaylor Materne. Meyers is best known directing several music videos for Kendrick Lamar, including the Grammy-winning “Humble” and “All the Stars” from the “Black Panther” soundtrack.
Maverick Carter will produce alongside James for Springhill Entertainment. Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Zack Roth will produce for Roth/Kirschenbaum Films.
“Hustle” centers on a washed-up basketball scout who discovers a Chinese streetball phenom and sees him as his ticket back to the NBA, talking him into coming to Los Angeles to train for the draft. The phenom is thrown into the hype machine of pro basketball prospects and must deal with being away from his family and village for the first time while the scout tries to put back together the pieces of the family he left behind.
James is repped by WME, Ziffren Brittenham. Meyers is repped by APA. Materne is repped by CAA, Oasis Entertainment, and attorney Jeff Hynick. Roth/Kirschenbaum is repped by CAA and Ziffren Brittenham.
Variety first reported the news.