Peacock’s ‘Shooting Stars’ First Look Shows How LeBron James Earned His Crown as the King

Isaac Rouse March 28, 2023, 3:55 pm

Peacock has released a first look at its upcoming Shooting Stars, a film adaptation of the book co-authored by LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Friday Night Lights.

The movie chronicles how LeBron James and his childhood friends ascended to the country’s top high school basketball team, ultimately launching James into a legendary career highlighted by four NBA Championships, two Olympic Gold Medals, and the title of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Watch the teaser above.

Chris Robinson, an Emmy-nominated director known for his work on Grown-ish, helms the film, which features the acting debut of Marquis “Mookie” Cook, a five-star high school small forward, in the role of a young LeBron James.

Set in the 1990s, Shooting Stars follows the story of a group of four friends led by a young LeBron James (Cook) and coached by Dru Joyce (Wood Harris). The group, consisting of Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin), Willie McGee (Avery S. Wills, Jr.), and Sian Cotton (Khalil Everage), affectionately call themselves the “Fab Four” in homage to the famous Michigan Wolverines’ “Fab Five” of the time.

SHOOTING STARS -- Pictured: (l-r) Scoot Henderson as Romeo Travis, Caleb McLaughlin as Lil Dru Joyce III, Mookie Cook as LeBron James, Avery S. Wills, Jr. as Willie McGee, Khalil Everage as Sian Cotton -- (Photo by: Oluwaseye Olusa/Universal Pictures)

Oluwaseye Olusa/Universal Pictures

To stay together and play varsity basketball as a team, despite the threat of being separated by their district’s top school coach, the Fab Four decide to transfer to a predominantly white Catholic school. This move is met with resentment from the community, but the boys prioritize their loyalty to each other above all else.

Under the guidance of their new coach (Dermot Mulroney), a disgraced former college coach looking for redemption, the boys, along with former rival and new teammate Romeo Travis (Sterling “Scoot” Henderson), face not only on-court battles but also real-life challenges in their pursuit of becoming national champions. Through their journey, they rediscover that the most important aspect of the game is the people you play alongside.

LeBron James serves as a producer on the film alongside Rachel Winter, Spencer Beighley, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, and Terence Winter.

Shooting Stars is executive produced by Gretel Twombly.

Shooting Stars, Movie Premiere, Friday, June 2, Peacock