Spike Lee will direct a new HBO series based on Mike Tyson’s youth called Da Brick

If you’ve ever watched the documentary TYSON, then you’ll know that there’s certainly a compelling story to be told about the young life of the former heavy-weight boxing champion. Mike Tyson’s telling of his story is thoughtful and even endearing at times (his recollection of a couple of old ladies looking at him and thinking he’s some sort of heathen is borderline hilarious actually). Now, it appears that tale of the man’s youth will be coming to HBO in a new dramatic series called “Da Brick”.

Director Spike Lee (“If God Is Willing and da Creek Don’t Rise”, “When the Levees Broke”), “Entourage” creator Doug Ellin, and writer John Ridley (RED TAILS, THREE KINGS) will be coming together to bring the project to life. According to Deadline, the series would be a modern exploration of black youth culture in our now so-called “post-racial” America, and would be loosely inspired by aspects of Tyson’s childhood. Producer Doug Ellin says, “The initial idea was ‘Entourage meets The Wire’, an edgy story about an up-and-coming boxer and his crew that is much more dramatic than Entourage.” Name-dropping “The Wire” is a mighty ballsy thing to do, but with Spike Lee at the helm (and considering that his two projects “If God Is Willing and da Creek Don’t Rise” and “When the Levees Broke” are like spiritual cousins to David Simon’s “Treme”) I can see it becoming something special.

No word yet on when we might expect to see “Da Brick”, but HBO is already looking for young black actors who can also be credible in the boxing ring.