Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired a spec script based on the dramatic true story of NBA legend Kobe Bryant joining the Los Angeles Lakers,Varietyhas confirmed. The project comes from screenwriters Alex Sohn and Gavin Johannsen. Rumors of the project had piqued the interest of multiple studios and streamers. One source toldVarietythat Warner Bros. preempted an auction and took the script, tentatively titled "With the 8th Pick?", off the table early. More from Variety Vanessa Bryant Awarded $16 Million in Suit Over Photos of Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash Netflix's 'Naomi Osaka' Docuseries Keeps Viewers at a Distance: TV Review Matt Mauser, Who Lost Wife in Kobe Bryant Crash, Gives Emotional Performance on 'America's Got Talent' Curiously, Bryant was taken by the Lakers with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft — not the eighth pick. The New Jersey Nets and its general manager, John Nash, had the eighth pick. Nash has previously said that he wanted to draft Bryant with the pick, but was overruled by Nets coach John Calipari. Other insiders familiar with the script described the film as "Moneyball" meets "Air," Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's recent feature detailing Nike's courtship of a rookie-year Michael Jordan. Warner Bros. had no comment when asked about the project. Sohn and Johannsen are repped by Verve Talent and Literary Agency. The former is managed by Lit Entertainment Group and the latter by Gotham Group. The InSneider first reported news of the Bryant script. That report also included possible production partners, though multiple sources said any third-party involvement was way premature. Best of Variety Oscar Predictions 2026: Venice and Telluride Will Spark the Start of Awards Season New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.
