‘Fate of a Sport’ From Executive Producer LeBron James Unveils First Trailer Before Tribeca Premiere
variety.comMatt Donnelly Senior Film Writer“Fate of a Sport,” an official premiere of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, has unveiled its first trailer exclusively to Variety.Covering the world of professional lacrosse and one of its most controversial and high-profile stars, Paul Rabil, the film deals in much more than triumph on the pitch — encompassing millions in capital fundraising, talent poaching, and lawsuits from legacy athletic clubs all against the backdrop of a global pandemic.“Even in the regular lacrosse league, guys still have to have a second job,” a narrator explains in the clip, alluding to the fact that professional lacrosse is nowhere near as well-funded or rewarding for its players on the national stage.
Until Rabil and his brother Mike decided to break ranks and potentially sacrifice Paul’s decorated career to launch a league of their own (the Premier Lacrosse League).
Directed by Michael Doneger and written by Dan Crane, the project features executive producers LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron.
Donegar and Matt Tolmach are producers.“I think they saw pro athletes in a league with a battered reputation, being underpaid and unhappy, who decided to take things into our own hands,” Rabil said of James and Carter coming on board the doc. “To break away from the establishment and take ownership in the new league…that felt special.”The film features interviews with several notables from entertainment and media, including Jeffrey Wright, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, and Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group CEO Tom Rothman.
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