Michael Chiklis will play Red Auerbach in HBO’s upcoming scripted series about the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s.
The untitled series was ordered at HBO in December 2019. It is described as chronicling the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties, in what came to be called the Showtime Era.
As the coach of the Celtics, Auerbach won 9 NBA championships. As general manager, he won 7 more. In the series, when the Lakers’ rise threatens his Boston dynasty, Auerbach proves himself to be the basketball genius and cut-throat competitor of every Laker fan’s nightmares.
Chiklis is best known for his starring role in the early FX cop drama “The Shield,” which earned him both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award. He also previously starred in the ABC drama series “The Commish,” Fox’s “Gotham,” and Season 4 of “American Horror Story.” He most recently starred in the Paramount Plus drama series “Coyote.” His feature credits include the “Fantastic Four” franchise and the TV movie biopic “The Three Stooges.”
He is repped by WME, Management 360 and attorney Neil Meyer.
Chiklis is the latest addition to the Lakers series this week. It was previously announced that Adrien Brody would star as coach Pat Riley, while Sally Field will star as Jerry Buss’ mother, Jessie.
The series also stars: John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss, Jason Clarke as Jerry West, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gaby Hoffmann as Claire Rothman, Hadley Robinson as Jeanie Buss, DeVaughn Nixon as Norm Nixon, Molly Gordon as Linda Zafrani, Rob Morgan as Earvin Johnson Sr., Spencer Garrett as Chick Hearn, Kirk Bovill as Donald Sterling, Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper, Stephen Adly Guirgis as Frank Mariani, Tamera Tomakili as Earletha ‘Cookie’ Kelly, and Joey Brooks as Lon Rosen.
The show is based on Jeff Pearlman’s non-fiction book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.” Max Borenstein serves as writer and executive producer. Adam McKay directed the pilot and executive produces through Hyperobject Industries. Kevin Messick of Hyperobject will also executive produce along with Jason Shuman. Jim Hecht co-wrote the story and will also executive produce. Scott Stephens will also executive produce along with Rodney Barnes.