Cleveland Cavs star PG Kyrie Irving is taking his talents to Hollywood.
Irving, 24, is slated to star in a feature-length film, centering around his Pepsi-sponsored alter ego; Uncle Drew.
Uncle Drew–played by Irving, is an old man who shows up to play pickup basketball, and ends up embarrassing any & everybody around with dazzling handle and halfcourt three pointers; went from Pepsi commercial to internet sensation, racking up millions of views on YouTube.
This, combined with Irving’s success on the court, have made Uncle Drew a national phenomenon, so a full-length movie should be big for Pepsi, and Irving himself.
In case you needed a refresher:
Details on when the film will be released haven’t been made available as of yet; but Irving spoke on the project via ESPN:
“I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to build with Pepsi,” Irving, who has been intimately involved in all the Uncle Drew scripts, told ESPN.com. “And even more excited for what’s ahead.”
Irving is working in the Lil Penny mold, and it’s genius. With the NBA’s rare ability to connect to fans of all ages and backgrounds, this project should be a huge win for everyone involved.
With LeBron reportedly in talks about a new Space Jam movie, the Cavs better have their eye on the east, which seems to be rapidly improving at a time when they seem to be struggling some.
Getting knocked out of the playoffs early probably wouldn’t be ideal for these side jobs.