Lakers' LeBron James, NFL legend Peyton Manning planning basketball streaming series: reports
Format of potential NBA docuseries to likely resemble Netflix's 'Quarterback'
Netflix recently released the sports docuseries "Beckham" to much fanfare. Earlier this year, Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions released the eight-episode series "Quarterback," which was billed as giving fans an inside look at "arguably the toughest job in football."
Shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the "Last Dance" miniseries grabbed the attention of millions of Americans who were suddenly spending a significant amount of time at home. Now, Manning appears to be joining forces with Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James to produce an NBA-style streaming docuseries, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground is also reportedly involved in the potential series.
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Former Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning, left, greets LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers at the Pepsi Center (now Ball Arena) on December 3, 2019. (Andy Cross / MediaNews Group / Denver Post / Getty Images)
James co-founded an entertainment development and production venture, SpringHill Company, with longtime business partner Maverick Carter. SpringHill will likely team up with Omaha Productions and Higher Ground.
The series is expected to follow a format similar to "Quarterback," which gave a behind-the-scenes look at three NFL quarterbacks over the course of the 2022 season. Each of the quarterbacks who were featured in season one were at different points in their respective careers.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had already won a Super Bowl and an MVP entering last season; now-former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota was a former first-round draft pick who had been in the league for several years and was getting a second chance at being a starter; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was the veteran player who had experienced a fair amount of success but was still seeking his first championship.
In 2019, Higher Ground won an Academy Award for best documentary feature for the docuseries "American Factory."
Host Peyton Manning speaks onstage at the ESPY Awards ceremony, July 12, 2017, at the then-Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Kevin Mazur / Getty Images)
Because of Higher Ground's first-look deal with Netflix and Omaha Productions' already established relationship with the streaming company, many believe the upcoming show centered around the NBA will ultimately land on Netflix.
First-look deals are typically an agreement between a studio and a production company that gives first right of refusal to productions that have yet to be filmed or released.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is greeted by teammates in the third quarter against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 31, 2023. (Elsa / Getty Images)
Manning launched Omaha Productions in 2020. He is a five-time NFL MVP and a two-time Super Bowl winner. He also co-hosts "Monday Night Football With Peyton and Eli," also known as the "ManningCast," on ESPN2.
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SpringHill Company has worked on several notable projects, including 2021's "Space Jam: A New Legacy," starring James, and "The Shop" talk show.