Jason Clarke to play Lakers legend Jerry West in new HBO pilot

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

HBO is set to begin production on Showtime next month, a drama pilot which will chronicle the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, "one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined its era, both on and off the court." It was announced today that Jason Clarke, recently seen in PET SEMATARY, will play NBA Hall of Famer and coach Jerry West.

Written by Max Borenstein (GODZILLA), the project is based upon Jeff Pearlman's non-fiction book "Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s" and Adam Mckay (VICE) will direct the pilot as well as serve as executive producer. Jason Clarke will play West, "the cantankerous tortured genius of basketball, who ought to be the perfect man to build the Lakers into a dynasty — if only he can get past his own worst enemy: Jerry West." Other key characters during this era include Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Pat Riley.

A synopsis of "Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s" via Amazon:

The Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s personified the flamboyance and excess of the decade over which they reigned. Beginning with the arrival of Earvin “Magic” Johnson as the number-one overall pick of the 1979 draft, the Lakers played basketball with gusto and pizzazz, unleashing their famed “Showtime” run-and-gun style on a league unprepared for their speed and ferocity—and became the most captivating show in sports and, arguably, in all-around American entertainment. The Lakers’ roster overflowed with exciting all-star-caliber players, including center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and they were led by the incomparable Pat Riley, known for his slicked-back hair, his Armani suits, and his arrogant strut. Hollywood’s biggest celebrities lined the court and gorgeous women flocked to the arena. Best of all, the team was a winner. Between 1980 and 1991, the Lakers played in an unmatched nine NBA championship series, capturing five of them.

Jason Clarke will next be seen in HBO's Catherine the Great mini-series alongside Helen Mirren this fall, as well as THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME and SILK ROAD, which are expected to drop next year.