The life of NBA champion Earvin “Magic” Johnson will soon come to streaming: Apple Tv+ announces a four-episode docu-series
Recounting the life and career of basketball star Earvin Magic Johnson. That’s the goal of Apple TV+, which has announced the creation of a docu-series about the two-time NBA Hall of Fame member and cultural icon who was the strongest point guard in basketball history.
Director Rick Famuyiwa will be tasked with bringing to the screen the successes and global impact the basketball star’s life had, both on and off the court. The docu-series on Magic Johnson is part of Apple TV+’s plan to expand the sports-related content offerings in its catalog. After the success of the comic series on soccer coach Ted Lasso, now Apple’s streaming platform is aiming at basketball champions. After the production of the documentary on Makur Maker, the young promise of Australian basketball, it’s time for Magic Johnson.
Magic Johnson: what is the docu-series about
The documentary on Magic Johnson in four episodes will tell the life and career of the NBA star, starting from his humble origins and life in Lasing, Michigan. Johnson is destined to become the five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, an HIV activist and a successful entrepreneur.
The champion’s story will be told amidst never-before-seen footage and interviews of Magic Johnson, his loved ones and even politicians and businessmen who worked with him, offering an unprecedented look at one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Directing the docu-series is director Rick Famuyiwa, with Dirk Westervelt editing and Rachel Morrison as director of photography. Production is by Apple from XTR and New Slate Ventures and in association with H.Wood Media and Delirio Films.
Apple TV+ focuses on documentaries and sports
The new docu-series is part of a larger project by Apple, which wants to expand the sports content offering in its catalog. On the world of basketball in addition to the documentary on Magic Johnson is also coming Big Man on Campus, on the life of the young Australian basketball promise Makur Maker, class 2000 originally from Kenya. Apple’s streaming platform meanwhile has signed an agreement for the exclusive production of content with Meadowlark, a company founded by former members of the sports channel ESPN, former president John Skipper and former presenter Dan Le Batard. More documentaries about the sport are on the way.
At the moment, Apple TV+ has announced that it will produce the series about the NBA star, but there is no official release date. What is certain is that the new series will join other acclaimed and award-winning documentaries on the streaming platform, such as Emmy Award-winning “Boys State,” director Todd Haynes’ “The Velvet Underground,” Critics Choice Award-winning “Beastie Boys Story” and the globally acclaimed documentary “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry” and many more.