Bo Burnham has been cast as Boston Celtics star Larry Bird in HBO’s upcoming series about the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s.
The untitled series was ordered at HBO in December 2019. It is described as chronicling the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties, in what came to be called the Showtime Era.
Bird is widely regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time. Having played his entire professional career for the Celtics, he helped lead the team to three NBA Championships. His time with the team included a legendary rivalry with the Lakers.
HBO declined to comment.
Burnham got his start as a viral sensation on YouTube before transitioning into stand up comedy and acting. He has released five comedy albums to date, with the most recent being “what” in 2013. He has appeared onscreen in films such as “The Big Sick” and “Promising Young Woman,” while he wrote and directed the film “Eighth Grade” in 2018. He has also appeared on TV shows like “Parks and Recreation” and “The Kroll Show,” and has directed stand up specials for comedians like Chris Rock and Jerrod Carmichael.
He is repped by UTA, Hirsch Wallerstein, and Narrative.
Burnham is the latest star to join the HBO series. In the past few weeks, Adrien Brody, Sally Field, and Michael Chiklis all joined the show as Pat Riley, Jessie Buss, and Red Auerbach respectively.
The series also stars: John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss, Jason Clarke as Jerry West, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gaby Hoffmann as Claire Rothman, Hadley Robinson as Jeanie Buss, DeVaughn Nixon as Norm Nixon, Molly Gordon as Linda Zafrani, Rob Morgan as Earvin Johnson Sr., Spencer Garrett as Chick Hearn, Kirk Bovill as Donald Sterling, Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper, Stephen Adly Guirgis as Frank Mariani, Tamera Tomakili as Earletha ‘Cookie’ Kelly, and Joey Brooks as Lon Rosen.
The show is based on Jeff Pearlman’s non-fiction book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.” Max Borenstein serves as writer and executive producer. Adam McKay directed the pilot and executive produces through Hyperobject Industries. Kevin Messick of Hyperobject will also executive produce along with Jason Shuman. Jim Hecht co-wrote the story and will also executive produce. Scott Stephens will also executive produce along with Rodney Barnes.
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