Academy Award nominee LaKeith Stanfield has been cast as former NBA star Dennis Rodman in the upcoming comedy film '48 Hours in Vegas.' The movie recounts Rodman's infamous mid-season trip to Las Vegas during the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls championship run. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, the project replaces Jonathan Majors in the lead role following his 2023 assault conviction.
Casting Announcement
LaKeith Stanfield, known for roles in films like 'Get Out' and 'Judas and the Black Messiah'—the latter earning him an Oscar nomination—will step into the shoes of Dennis Rodman. The announcement comes after Jonathan Majors was dropped from the project due to his assault conviction. Stanfield expressed enthusiasm in a statement: “I’m genuinely excited to help create an exhilarating, joyful work that both honors and thoughtfully examines the legacy of Rodman and fellow trailblazers.”
Film Details
'48 Hours in Vegas' is a Lionsgate production billed as a comedy, focusing on one of the wildest stories from the Chicago Bulls' 1998 NBA season. During the Bulls' pursuit of a second three-peat, Rodman requested a break from coach Phil Jackson, heading to Las Vegas with then-girlfriend Carmen Electra. He was later retrieved by Michael Jordan, who quipped, “We had to go get his ass out of bed.” The film draws from the ESPN documentary 'The Last Dance,' expanding on this infamous anecdote.
Director Rick Famuyiwa, whose credits include 'The Wood' and 'Brown Sugar,' will helm the project and co-write the screenplay with Jordan VanDina. Rodman himself serves as an executive producer. Erin Westerman, president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, praised the casting: “Dennis Rodman is more than a basketball player... LaKeith and the incredibly talented team on this film will bring the legend to life.”
No release date has been announced, but the film promises a nostalgic look at Rodman's larger-than-life persona and the Bulls' dynasty era.
