HBO has ordered the pilot for “Da Brick,” a boxing drama loosely based on former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson’s early life in the ring.
As previously reported, the project hails from Tyson, along with Spike Lee, and “Entourage” creator Doug Ellin. Lee is set to direct.
It will be set in Newark, N.J., a.k.a. “Brick City.”
As much as “Entourage” was inspired by producer Mark Wahlberg’s life, “Da Brick” will reflect aspects of Tyson’s upbringing. It marks the latest in a string of Hollywood projects for Tyson, who has turned up in the “Hangover” franchise as well as Animal Planet’s “Taking on Tyson.” Last season, he added a cameo on “Entourage” to his resume.
For his part, Ellin has a comedy vehicle with Ed Burns set up at HBO and will wrap up “Entourage” after 8 seasons later this summer. Lee, too, is no stranger to HBO, having produced and directed a series of New Orleans documentaries, “When the Levees Broke” and “If God Is Willing and da Creek Don’t Rise.”
