Adam McKay’s television series based on the book Showtime by Jeff Pearlman is progressing nicely for HBO. The show, which does not have a title yet, revealed that some major roles have already been cast.
John C. Rielly, a favorite of McKay’s, will play Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Reilly is best known as Cal Naughton Jr. in McKay’s film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, but he received an Oscar nomination for his work in 2003’s Chicago.
The role of Buss had originally gone to two-time Oscar nominee Michael Shannon, bet remembered for his role on Boardwalk Empire. Shannon left the project over creative differences.
The first casting decisions for Lakers players have been made. An article at Collider says that McKay prioritized an ability to look natural playing basketball when casting these roles. Actor Quincy Isiah will play Magic Johnson. Former Cal basketball team captain Solomon Hughes has landed the role of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Jerry West will be played by Jason Clarke. The Zero Dark Thirty star was seen earlier this year in the remake of Stephen King’s Pet Cemetery. Veteran character actor Spencer Garrett will take on the role of Lakers play-by-play man Chick Hearn.
While the show is expected to go series, it is unknown if it will be a limited run affair, or if HBO has plans to extend McKay’s Laker project over the course of multiple seasons.
