Rez Ball

American sports drama film

Sydney Freeland
Sterlin Harjo

Based onCanyon Dreams by Michael PowellProduced by

LeBron James
Maurício Mota
Katie Elmore Mota
Spencer Beighley
Jamal Henderson
Nancy Utley

Starring

Jessica Matten
Julia Jones
Amber Midthunder
Kiowa Gordon

CinematographyKira Kelly

Production
companies

The SpringHill Company
Wise Entertainment
Chernin Entertainment
Lake Ellyn Entertainment

Distributed byNetflixCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Rez Ball is an upcoming American sports drama film written and directed by Sydney Freeland that will be available on streaming service Netflix. Freedland and Sterlin Harjo adapted the screenplay from The New York Times journalist Michael Powell’s nonfiction sports novel Canyon Dreams. LeBron James is a producer on the project. An ensemble cast is set to feature Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, and Kiowa Gordon.

Synopsis

The Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team from Chuska, New Mexico, are competing for the state championship title but lose their star player.^[1]^[2]

Cast

Jessica Matten
Julia Jones
Amber Midthunder
Kiowa Gordon
Dallas Goldtooth
Cody Lightning
Ernest Tsosie
Kauchani Bratt
Devin Sampson-Craig
River Rayne Thomas
Jojo Jackson
Avery Hale
Hunter Redhorse Arthur
Henry Wilson Jr
Jaren K. Robledo
Damian Henry Castellan
Kusem Goodwind
Zoey Reyes

Production

Sydney Freeland was announced as director of the project for Netflix in August 2021. Freeland and Sterlin Harjo had written the script inspired by Michael Powell's nonfiction sports novel Canyon Dreams (2019). The project was produced by Wise Entertainment with Maurício and Katie Mota involved.^[3] That same month LeBron James and Maverick Carter were announced to have joined the project as producers via The SpringHill Company with Spencer Beighley and Jamal Henderson executive producers for SpringHill.^[4]

Filming

In April 2023, Deadline Hollywood reported that principal photography was underway and taking place in New Mexico with filming on the Navajo Nation, with the permission and support of the local sovereign tribal nations.^[5]

References

^ Easterling, Mike. "Film based on book about high school hoops on Navajo Nation will be shot in New Mexico". Farmington Daily Times. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
^ DiLillo, John (April 17, 2023). "Everything You Need to Know About 'Rez Ball'". Netflix.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
^ Jackson, Angelique (August 5, 2021). "Sydney Freeland to Direct Native American Basketball Film 'Rez Ball' for Netflix". Variety. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
^ Galuppo, Mia (August 5, 2021). "LeBron James to Produce Netflix Native American Basketball Feature 'Rez Ball' Sydney Freeland will direct from a script she wrote with 'Reservation Dogs' creator Sterlin Harjo". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
^ Grobar, Matt (April 17, 2023). "Rez Ball': Netflix Sets Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, Kiowa Gordon & More For Sydney Freeland's Native American Basketball Underdog Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 18, 2023.