Tika Sumpter, Mike Epps, Andrew Schulz and George Lopez are joining the cast of Snoop Dogg’s upcoming comedy The Underdoggs for MGM. Snoop will produce the project under his Death Row Pictures banner alongside Kenya Barris. The Underdoggs is based on an original pitch from Snoop Dogg and his longtime producing partner Constance Schwartz-Morini with Danny Segal and Isaac Schamis attached to pen the project.
The film also stars a team of child actors: Jonigan Booth, Adan James Carrillo, Kylah Davila, Caleb Dixon, Alexander Michael Gordon and Shamori Washington.
Charles Stone is directing the feature which tells the story of Jaycen Jenning “2J’s,” played by Snoop, a former NFL superstar who, after a run in with the law, agrees to coach a youth football team in lieu of serving time in prison with the goal of relaunching his fledgling career.
The Underdogg is schedule to be released on Oct. 20, 2023
In real life, Snoop has been coaching football for 15 years with the Snoop Youth Football League that he launched with long-time business partner Schwartz-Morini.
“Giving back to the community through football has taught us so many invaluable life lessons that we’ve been able to share with kids in similar situations like mine when I was growing up. My hope is that this movie will shed light on the realities that kids and adults face in the hood and within the complex world of football,” Snoop said in his own statement.
MGM COO Chris Brearton continued in a statement.
“Snoop’s longtime commitment to his community via his youth football league is hugely inspiring to all of us at MGM. We are thrilled to be working alongside this incredible creative team to bring this great comedy to moviegoing audiences, and to further MGM’s commitment to the theatrical exhibition when it hits theaters next October.”
Mychelle Deschamps for Barris’ Khalabo Ink Society, Schwartz-Morini of SMAC Entertainment and Jonathan Glickman for Panoramic Media are also producing.
Production is underway for an Oct. 20, 2023 theatrical release.
In other Barris/MGM news: MGM and Barris are currently in development on a Richard Pryor biopic, which Barris will direct as well as write and produce.