LeBron James is expanding his entertainment brand with a new sitcom titled "Survivor's Remorse," which the two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP is set to be an executive producer. James pretty much spelled out the concept behind the show while being interviewed at the podium to accept the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June.
As someone who made it past the obstacles of inner city Akron, James and his Fenway Sports Group business partners Maverick Carter and Tom Werner are developing a show that uses characters to explore the lives of two men who reach fame and fortune, and their relationships with friends of family in light of that success. Actor Mike O'Malley will be the shows writer and also co-executive producer.
There isn't a set timetable for when the show would premiere, but Starz will carry it.
Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said it was the contemporary piece the network had been looking. LeBron and Carter came up with the idea after having conversations about their own lives.
Here's what LBJ told the Associated Press:
"I think the main thing for me is, first of all, making it out of a place where you're not supposed to. You're supposed to be a statistic and end up like the rest of the people in the inner city — (and) being one of the few to make it out and everyone looking at you to be the savior," the Miami Heat superstar said in a phone interview last week.
"When you make it out, everyone expects for — they automatically think that they made it out and it's very tough for a young, African-American 18-year-old kid to now hold the responsibility of a whole city, of a whole community. I can relate to that as well."
LeBron caught some flack for passing up on the chance to become NBPA president, deciding that his hectic schedule wouldn't for it. But if this is the type of project he wants to spend his own time on, who could really hate on it?
