While NBA superstarLeBron Jamescontinues to develop a long-gestating sequel toSpace Jam, another current NBA star is working on a new basketball-themed remake.Black-ishcreatorKenya Barrisis teaming up with the NBA’sBlake Griffinand NFL starRyan Kalilfor a remake of the 1992 comedy filmWhite Men Can’t Jump. While the title for the original is actually a line in the film, delivered byWesley Snipes' Sidney Deane toWoody Harrelson’s Billy Hoyle, about his inability to dunk, it’s quite ironic thatBlake Griffinis producing, since he is a white man that can jump, winning the NBA Slam Dunk contest in 2011.
The Hollywood Reporterreveals thatKenya Barriswill write the screenplay and produce thissports remake, which will fall under the overall deal he signed with 20th Century Fox last September.Blake GriffinandRyan Kalilwill produce under their Mortal Media company, along with their partnerNoah Weinstein. The project does not have a director attached at this time, and it wasn’t revealed if the studio has a production start or a release date that they’re eyeing.
The originalWhite Men Can’t Jumpwas set in Los Angeles, following a pair of basketball hustlers, Sidney Deane and Billy Hoyle, who team up when Billy gets in trouble, owing money to a pair of ruthless gangsters. Thesupporting castincludesRosie Perez,Tyra Ferrell,Kadeem Hardison,Ernest Harden Jr.andJohn Marshall Jones.Ron Shelton(Bull Durham) directedWhite Men Can’t Jumpfrom his own screenplay, with the movie earning $76.2 million domestically during its theatrical run in 1992. When adjusted for inflation, that total equals a $156.3 million run today.
Pro athletesBlake GriffinandRyan Kalilare building an intriguing slate through their Mortal Media company, which is highlighted by theirRocketeer remake, which made headlines last year. The project has been described as a “sequel-reboot,” with this story set in the Cold War, featuring an African-American female pilot in the Rocketeer suit, not the Cliff Secord character from the original. Mortal Media is also producing an untitled comedy project for NBC, which is being written by brothersMatthewandDaniel Libman, who previously served as writer-producers on ABC’sHappy Endings.Blake Griffinalso serves as an executive producer on an animated comedy pilot presentation for Fox entitledOkies of Bel Air, which is inspired by certain elements ofBlake Griffin’s life.
Kenya Barrisis best known for his work on the small screen, creating, writing and producing ABC’s hit sitcomBlack-ish. On the big screen, he co-wrote and produced the comedy sequelBarbershop: The Next Cut, and we reported last year that he is also writing the script for a theatrical adaptation of the hit seriesGood Times. The filmmaker is also developing another remake ofShaftfor New Line Cinema at this time, but it remains to be seen which of these projects will come out of development and into production first. Hopefully we’ll learn more about theWhite Men Can’t Jumpremake in the very near future.
