The film is inspired by the untold story of Dennis Rodman’s legendary trip to Las Vegas during the 1998 NBA Finals, as the Chicago Bulls were on the verge of completing their second consecutive three-peat championship in eight years.
48 Hours in Vegas follows two whirlwind days in Sin City and Rodman’s madcap — and possibly true — adventures.
The film will be produced by Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Aditya Sood of Lord Miller.
Rick Famuyiwa will write the next draft of the screenplay, originally written by Jordan VanDina.
Ari Lubet, Rodman and Lucy Kitada will serve as executive producers. Nikki Baida will co-produce.
Meredith Wieck and Pavan Kalidindi will oversee the project for Lionsgate. Robert Melnik negotiated the deals on behalf of the studio.
“Dennis Rodman is more than a basketball player, more than a personality — he’s an entire cultural phenomenon,” said Erin Westerman, president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “His bold style and physical presence, combined with an iconic persona, created a larger-than-life impact on and off the court. There will never be another like him. LaKeith and the incredibly talented team behind this film will bring the legend to life in this extraordinarily unbelievable story.”
Stanfield added, “I’m genuinely excited to help create an exhilarating, joyful work that both honors and thoughtfully examines the legacy of Rodman and fellow trailblazers — those who moved to the beat of their own drum, undeterred by the obstacles placed before them, then and now.”
LaKeith Stanfield’s credits include The Book of Clarence, Judas and the Black Messiah, FX’s Atlanta and Sorry to Bother You. He is represented by CAA, Stark Management and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis.
Famuyiwa most recently directed episodes of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka and serves as an executive producer on Showtime’s The Chi. He is represented by WME, Oasis Media Group and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang.
