Two days after ordering dark comedy The Brink to series, HBO has added yet another high profile comedy project to its roster - with a series order for comedy Ballers starring wrestling and movie star Dwayne Johnson in his first TV series regular role.
Written by Steve Levinson, Ballers explores the lives of a group of former and current football players living in Miami.
The cast includes Johnson as Spencer Strasnore, a retired athlete; Omar Miller as Charles, an affable former pro athlete who is searching for his next career; John David Washington as Ricky, a highly competitive and highly spiritual pro athlete; Rob Corddry as Joe, a financial advisor who tries really hard to fit in; Troy Garity as Jason, a top-tier sports agent; Donovan Carter as Vernon, a deeply family oriented pro athlete; Jazmyn Simon as Julie, wife of an ex-pro athlete; Taylor Cole as Michaels, an ESPN sideline reporter who is romantically involved with Spencer; and LeToya Luckett as Tina, widow to one of Spencer's closest friends.
Johnson is executive producing with Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Even Reilly, Dany Garcia and Peter Berg, who also directed the pilot. Reilly will serve as day-to-day showrunner. Hiram Garcia is co-executive producing while Dave Levinson and Bret Slater will serve as producers.
Closest to the Hole Productions, Leverage Entertainment and White Buffalo Entertainment will produce the series. Production is scheduled to begin later this year for an expected debut in 2015.
