Focus has released a trailer for its basketball dramaBoogie, which hails from writer-directorEddie Huang, the creator ofFresh Off the Boat.
Taylor Takahashistars as Alfred “Boogie” Chin, a basketball phenom living in Queens, New York, who dreams of one day playing in the NBA. As his parents pressure him to focus on earning a scholarship to an elite college, Boogie must find a way to navigate high school, a new girlfriend, on-court rivals and the burden of expectation.
The film was produced byJosh Bratman,Josh McLaughlinandMichael Tadross, and it co-starsTaylour Paige(Zola) andMike Moh(Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as well asPamelyn Chee,Jorge Lendeborg Jr.,Alexa Mareka,Perry Yungand the late rapperPop Smoke, who was tragically killed during a home invasion earlier this year.
I think anyone primed to see a basketball movie these days probably follows basketball in real life, and intentional or not,Boogiewill bring to mind the inspirational story ofJeremy Lin, whose show-stopping play on the court sparked the Linsanity phenomenon across the NBA community. Obviously, this is not The Jeremy Lin Story, though it’s inevitable that comparisons will be made – which could end up being a good thing for the commercial prospects of this wholly original film.
As I understand it, the character of Boogie is Chinese-American, and I think it’s pretty cool that we’re getting a basketball movie featuring a protagonist who isn’t white or Black. I’ve played pick-up ball with several Chinese and Korean guys in Los Angeles, and they could all shoot the hell out of the rock. Frankly, it’s about damn time we’re getting a sports movie about an Asian protagonist that doesn’t revolve around martial arts. In fact, I’m surprised no enterprising studio has made anIchiro Suzukibiopic. Seems like a good idea if you ask me, but I’m no big-shot executive.
Anyway, I never saw an episode ofFresh Off the Boat, but I was really impressed by its two starsRandall ParkandConstance WuinAlways Be My MaybeandHustlers, respectively, so I imagine it was pretty good, especially for a network sitcom. Focus will release Huang’s movie in theaters on March 5, so watch the trailer forBoogiebelow, and if you’re a sports fan who hasn’t seenSafetyyet, be sure andcheck it out on Disney+.
