Kevin Noonan / Variety /
LeBron James and the team behind ESPN’s “30 for 30” series have sold the sports docu-series “Becoming “ to Disney XD, set to premiere later this year.
The half-hour series from James’ Springhill Prods. and ESPN Films will feature profiles of inspiring athletes, aimed at children and families. The pilot, which profiled James’ rise to becoming an NBA superstar, aired in October.
“I’m excited about ‘Becoming’ because it’s something every young kid can relate to. It shows them that everyone faces adversity and challenges while growing up — even their heroes,” said James. “I’m so proud that Springhill Production Company is a part of this project that reaches kids in such a positive way, and there’s no better partner than Disney.”
The series is an on-brand move for Disney XD which targets boys ages 6-11, including other sports-themed programming developed in partnership with ESPN. “Becoming” EPs include Connor Schell, Bill Simmons, Libby Geist and John Dahl, who are also behind ESPN’s much-lauded “30 for 30” series.
“In ‘Becoming,’ we are excited to create aspirational stories for kids using our signature ’30 for 30′ style,” said Connor Schell, ESPN Films veep and executive producer. “By allowing the athletes and those who influenced them to tell their own stories, we hope to create an inspiring, inside account of how each athlete reached the top of their sport.”
For James and business partner Maverick Carter, who also serves as an exec producer on “Becoming,” the series represents further investment in the entertainment world, as the duo also helped develop and serve as EPs for the Starz comedy “Survivor’s Remorse,” which premiered last fall.
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