OMARI HARDWICK, KELLY ROWLAND AND ROME FLYNN
JOIN MARSAI MARTIN IN NICKELODEON AND AWESOMENESS FILMS’ FANTASY FOOTBALL, TO DEBUT ON PARAMOUNT+
NFL Films and EA SPORTS to Provide Production Expertise on Movie
Directed by Anton Cropper and Produced in Partnership with The SpringHill Company and Genius Entertainment, Production Begins This Month in Atlanta
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| (L-R) Omari Hardwick, Kelly Rowland and Rome Flynn. Courtesy of Awesomeness; Joshua Renfroe |
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LOS ANGELES/ATLANTA—April 19, 2022—Omari Hardwick (Army of the Dead, Pieces of Her), Kelly Rowland (American Soul) and Rome Flynn (How to Get Away with Murder) have joined Marsai Martin (Little) to round out the cast of Fantasy Football, Nickelodeon and Awesomeness Films’ new live-action movie, set to debut exclusively on Paramount+ later this year. NFL Films and EA SPORTS™ have signed on to provide expertise on various aspects related to the film’s production. In partnership with The SpringHill Company and Genius Entertainment, the film begins shooting this month in Atlanta, Ga.
Fantasy Football follows 16-year-old Callie A. Coleman (Martin) who discovers she can control her professional football player dad, Bobby Coleman’s (Hardwick) prowess on the field through EA SPORTS Madden NFL. Keisha Coleman, Callie’s mom, is played by Rowland. Anderson Fisher, Bobby’s rookie archrival, is played by Emmy® Award-winner Flynn. Directed by NAACP® Image Award-winner and Emmy® Award-nominee Anton Cropper (Black-ish) and written by Emmy® Award winners Dan Gurewitch & David Young, the film is based on an original screenplay by Richard T. Jones & Jeremy Loethen and Tim Ogletree.
Said Cropper, “I am so excited to be working with such a talented and supportive group. Fantasy Football is a culmination of the adrenaline of the NFL and the fun of EA SPORTS Madden NFL, with the heart of a father-daughter relationship. As the father of a teenage daughter, I can’t wait to sit down and watch this with her. It’s everything a great film is supposed to be!”
Additional cast members announced today include Elijah Richardson as Nate, Hanani Taylor as Kayla, Abigail Killmeier as Margot, Tyla Harris as Zoey, and Isac Ivan as Oliver.
Fantasy Football is produced by The SpringHill Company (Space Jam: A New Legacy), the empowerment-led media conglomerate spearheaded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, and in partnership with wunderkind and creative mastermind Marsai Martin and Joshua Martin of Genius Entertainment (Little). LeBron James, Spencer Beighley and Jamal Henderson serve as producers for The SpringHill Company. Marsai Martin and Joshua Martin serve as producers, and Carol Martin and Jamila Jordan-Theus serve as executive producers for Genius Entertainment. Production of the film at Awesomeness is overseen by Syrinthia Studer, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon and Awesomeness Films, and Jessica Smith, Director of Development. Timothy Bourne serves as producer.
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| Abigail Killmeier. Photo Credit Courtesy of Awesomeness |
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| Anton Cropper. Photo Credit Courtesy of Awesomeness |
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| Dan Gurewitch. Photo Credit Courtesy of Awesomeness |
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| David Young. Photo Credit Courtesy of Awesomeness |
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| Elijah Richardson. Photo Credit Courtesy of Awesomeness |
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| Hanani Taylor. Photo Credit Courtesy of Stephanie Girard |
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| Isac Ivan. Photo Credit Courtesy of Awesomeness |
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| Kelly Rowland. Photo Credit Courtesy of Awesomeness |
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| Marsai Martin. Photo Credit Courtesy of Brandon Almengo |
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| Omari Hardwick. Photo Credit Courtesy of Awesomeness |
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| Rome Flynn. Photo Credit Courtesy of Joshua Renfroe |
Fantasy Football is the third film to enter production under Awesomeness and Nickelodeon Live-Action Film Studio head Studer, following The J Team, starring and executive produced by JoJo Siwa, and the upcoming Honor Society, starring Angourie Rice and Gaten Matarazzo.
About The SpringHill Company
The SpringHill Company is a global consumer and entertainment brand created to empower greatness in every individual by uniting three companies built by LeBron James and Maverick Carter: UNINTERRUPTED, the Sports Emmy-winning athlete empowerment media and consumer product company, SpringHill Entertainment, the premium scripted and unscripted film and television production company, and The Robot Company, the brand and culture consultancy. With a dynamic and diverse team committed to creating the most culturally inspired brands, entertainment, and products. The SpringHill Company is built to be the defining brand for a new generation. On the feature front, they recently released ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ and are set to release ‘House Party’ for New Line, as well as the Adam Sandler-led ‘Hustle’ for Netflix. The SpringHill Company is represented by WME and JSSK.
About Genius Entertainment
Genius Entertainment, founded by Actress/Executive Producer Marsai Martin alongside Joshua and Carol Martin, creates stories meant to inspire, illuminate, and celebrate the diverse experiences of girls and people of color.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.
In fiscal year 2021, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $5.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™ and F1™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.
EA SPORTS, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims and Titanfall are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, FIFA and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
About Awesomeness
Founded in 2012, Awesomeness is a media company focused on serving the global Gen Z audience through its digital publishing, film and television studio divisions. Awesomeness has become the destination for youth culture, cultivating a loyal audience with award-winning programming on the world’s biggest streaming services including Netflix (smash-hit film series “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” Emmy® winner “Trinkets”) and Hulu (Emmy® winner “Zac & Mia”, Emmy® nominee “Pen15”), along with the company’s immensely popular short-form programs on YouTube (“Next Influencer,” Twin My Heart,” “Noah Beck Tries Things,” “My Dream QuinceaƱera”), that garner hundreds of millions of views. As a leading media brand, Awesomeness’ worldwide distribution footprint spans owned, social and premium SVOD platforms. Awesomeness is part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands and headquartered in Los Angeles, with additional offices in New York.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 43rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands.
About Paramount+
Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news, and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world’s biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream CBSN for 24/7 news, CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis, and ET Live for entertainment coverage.
For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.
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Hardwick is represented by WME and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Rowland by Gersh and Roc Nation Management; Flynn by Innovative Artists, Weiner Dale Management and Meyers & Downs; Richardson by CESD and Terrific Talent; Taylor by AEFH; Killmeier by Savage Agency and Treadwell Entertainment Group; Harris by Alexander White Agency and Authentic Talent and Literary Management; Ivan by Stellar Talent Agency; and Gonzalez by SMAC Entertainment.
