LeBron James was given nicknames like “King James” and “The Chosen One” before he even had a driver’s license. Most sports fans had already heard of LeBron while he was playing at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. If you’re unfamiliar with LeBron’s high school story, you may be able to see it on the big screen in the near future.
According to Variety, Universal Pictures is closing in on a deal to acquire the rights to a feature project that is based on James’ high school career. Several studios have reportedly been battling for the rights to the script.
LeBron and his manager and childhood friend Maverick Carter are expected to produce the film along with “Dallas Buyers Club” producer Rachel Winter.
Some of LeBron’s high school games had to be played at the University of Akron’s arena, which held nearly 6,000 people, so the demand for tickets could be met. He appeared in publications like SLAM Magazine from a young age and some of his games senior year were nationally televised on ESPN. There was also controversy surrounding LeBron when he turned 18 after his mother gave him an H2 for his birthday and used his future earning power to obtain the loan.
Whether you like LeBron or not, a movie about his early years should make for great viewing.
