Disney+ has ordered a series adaptation of Kwame Alexander‘s novel The Crossover, which has NBA star LeBron James on board as a producer. The show will be a coming-of-age tale centered around the relationship between two brothers, Josh and JB Bell, who have a love for basketball.
Their father, Chuck, is a former NBA All-Star who is both revered for his basketball skills and looked to as a prominent member of the community. Josh and JB’s mother, Crystal, keeps a close eye on the boys at school where she works as the assistant principal.
While both the brothers have grown up on the court, it is Josh that truly loves the game, and the series will be narrated through his lyrical poetry as viewers will see the brothers grow into their own and begin to step out from behind their father’s shadow. The series promises “growing pains, but also emotional turmoil, forcing each of them to grow up faster than either would have wanted.”
Jaylyn Hall will play Josh and Amir O’Neil will play JB. Derek Luke and Sabrina Revelle with play parents Chuck and Crystal, respectively. George Tillman Jr. (The Hate U Give) directed the already-shot pilot, which was scripted by Alexander and Damani Johnson.
Ayo Davis, Disney’s President of Branded Television said: “We’re honored to bring Kwame Alexander‘s poignant, emotional and poetic story to our Disney+ audience in partnership with this outstanding group of creative talent.”
Other projects James is producing under his SpringHill Company banner include Native American basketball movie Rez Ball and the Adam Sandler basketball movie Hustle, both for Netflix. They also produced Space Jam: A New Legacy. No word yet on whether the company has any non-basketball projects in the works.
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