HBO has gathered an impressive, if eclectic, team for a drama series project loosely based on former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson’s early life in the boxing ring. ??
The project, titled Da Brick, hails from Tyson, along with filmmaker Spike Lee, L.A. Riots’ John Ridley, Entourage creator Doug Ellin and his producing partner Jim Lefkowitz. Lee is set to direct with Ridley on board to write and showrun. It will be set in Newark, N.J., which is often dubbed “Brick City.”
Much as Entourage was inspired by producer Mark Wahlberg‘s life, this project, still in development, will reflect aspects of Tyson’s upbringing. It marks the latest in a string of Hollywood projects for Tyson, who has turned up in the Hangover franchise as well as Animal Planet’s Taking on Tyson. Last season, he added a cameo on Entourage to his resume.
For his part, Ellin has a comedy vehicle with Ed Burns set up at HBO and will wrap up Entourage after eight seasons later this summer. Lee, too, is no stranger for the premium cable net, having produced and directed a series of New Orleans documentaries, When the Levees Broke and If God Is Willing and da Creek Don’t Rise.
Ellin and Lefkowitz are repped by WME; Lee and Ridley are repped by CAA.
