According to Lionsgate, LaKeith Stanfield has been selected to replace Jonathan Majors in Rick Famuyiwa’s upcoming film 48 Hours in Vegas, playing the role of Dennis Rodman during the NBA Finals. Majors had originally been cast as Rodman, but was dropped after his conviction on two misdemeanor charges of assault and harassment.
Stanfield’s extensive credits include roles in Atlanta, Get Out, BoJack Horseman, Uncut Gems, Knives Out, Selma, Sorry to Bother You, and Haunted Mansion. He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in 2021’s Judas and the Black Messiah.
In announcing the casting, Lionsgate’s president Erin Westerman said¨that ”Dennis Rodman is more than a basketball player, more than a personality—he’s an entire cultural phenomenon. His bold style and physical presence, combined with an iconic persona, created a larger-than-life impact on and off the court. There’ll never be another like him. LaKeith and the incredibly talented team on this film will bring the legend to life in this most extraordinarily unbelievable story.”
In a statement announcing his selection, Stanfield said: “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.”
After his conviction, Majors also was booted from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he had appeared in Loki and in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. But he was recently seen in Magazine Dreams, which was filmed before his legal troubles. He is set to appear next in Merciless, a thriller directed by Martin Villeneuve.
The Nigerian-American Famuyiwa, who co-wrote the script for 48 Hours in Vegas with Jordan VanDine, had earlier directed six episodes of The Mandolorian, serving as executive producer for the third season. His other film credits include The Wood, Dope, Brown Sugar, and Talk To Me.
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