Over the past decade, Phil Lord and Chris Miller have emerged as some of the most creative directors in all of Hollywood. They’ve made a name for themselves by delivering funny and sweet animated movies like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. However, their newest project will fall more in line with their adult comedies like the Jump Street films, as he directing duo are now set to make a Dennis Rodman movie. And the premise is a wild one that should get sports historians excited.
48 Hrs. in Vegas will draw from Dennis Rodman’s impromptu trip to Las Vegas in the middle of the 1997-1998 NBA season, per Deadline. While not an exact account of the trip, the film depicts Rodman engaging in various shenanigans across Sin City alongside his somewhat nerve-ridden assistant GM. While the film is sure to have its fair share of hilarious (and crude) moments, it seems it will have an emotional core, thanks to the developing friendship between the two lead characters. It's an intriguing story, and one that Lionsgate was apparently eager to get its hands on.
Many would probably agree with me when I say Phil Lord and Chris Miller would be perfect directors for the project. However, the two will, instead, be serving as producers under their production company. Meanwhile, the screenplay was penned (in the midst of the pandemic) by Jordan VanDina, whose credits include Hulu’s Animaniacs and Adult Swim comedy SuperMansion. And some will likely be pleased to know that Dennis Rodman himself has boarded the project as an executive producer, alongside Will Allegra and Ari Lubert.
Dennis Rodman’s trip to Vegas has become somewhat of a legend among sports aficionados, and it only gained more traction following its coverage on ESPN’s The Last Dance last year. As the story goes, Rodman was putting in serious work for the Bulls amid the absence of teammate Scottie Pippen, who was recovering from injury. Once Pippen returned in the middle of the season, Rodman asked to take a “vacation," head coach Phil Jackson ultimately allowed him to leave the team for two days. And the rest, as they say, is sports (and pop culture) history.
The exact details of the 48 hrs. are unclear, but many have alleged that the Hall of Famer’s trip was a wild one. He was also accompanied by his girlfriend (later ex-wife) Carmen Electra. Such a fascinating protagonist and vibrant setting can make for a unique movie and, based on their statement, Phil Lord and Chris Miller are well aware of that fact:
Dennis refused to follow the herd. That is what made him a target and it’s also what made him a star. His weekend in Las Vegas is full of fun and high jinks but it is also full of important questions about the way public figures, and workers are treated, especially when their individuality is expressed so vividly.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group President Nathan seems to agree with the pair’s assessment. In his own statement, he further teased what audiences can expect from the film:
There’s only one Dennis Rodman. In 1998, there was nobody on Earth who’d be more fun – or maybe more dangerous – to party with. And yet that’s not even half of who he is. This movie takes you on an unforgettable ride with the myth, the legend, and also the man that Dennis is, behind everything you think you know. We could not be more thrilled to be working with Phil, Chris, Aditya, Ari, Will, and Jordan, and above all, Dennis, whose amazing career and life will make for an off-the-wall hilarious yet completely human and emotional movie. You think you know anything about ’The Worm’? Just you wait!
“The Worm” was one of the most intriguing personalities in all of sports, and that’s sure to shine through in 48 hrs. in Vegas. I'm honestly anxious to see exactly what Phil Lord, Chris Miller and their collaborators have in store for us.
