Filmmaker Spike Lee and "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin are stepping into the ring with a new drama for HBO, and they have a very heavy hitter in their corner: Mike Tyson.
Lee and Ellin are teaming up for a new series, "Da Brick," loosely based on the boxing legend's roots, with Tyson co-executive producing, the cable outlet confirmed to TheWrap on Wednesday. Lee will direct, with Ellin executive-producing. John Ridley, who penned the upcoming project "L.A. Riots," is signed on to write as well as executive-produce.
The series is described as an "exploration of what it means to be a young, black man in supposedly post-racial America, loosely inspired by aspects of Mike Tyson’s youth.”
The title derives from "The Brick City," the nickname for Newark, N.J., where the series will be set.
Tyson has upped his show-biz profile of late, with a substantial cameo in the 2009 smash "The Hangover," as well as the Animal Planet reality series "Taking on Tyson" and a guest appearance as himself in an episode of "Entourage" last year.
News of "Da Brick" was first published by the Hollywood Reporter.
