Apple Original Films’ upcoming dramedy from filmmaker Stephen Chbosky has expanded its ensemble, adding Wood Harris, Mark Linn-Baker (Ghosts), Yakov Smirnoff (Night Court), and Didi Conn (Best Medicine). They join previously announced stars Mark Wahlberg, Vera Farmiga, and Indie DesRoches.
Developed and produced by Apple Studios, the film is based on the 2023 German-language sports dramedy Weekend Rebels, which was inspired by the true story of Mirco and Jason von Juterzcenka. The original followed a father and his autistic son who travel across Germany to attend matches at every football stadium so the son can decide on his favorite team.
In this new version, the story will shift from soccer to basketball, with the father and son setting their sights on the NBA. The change comes from the involvement of The SpringHill Company, founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, which is producing alongside Plan B.
The film is produced by Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner for Plan B, and Spencer Beighley, LeBron James, and Jamal Henderson for SpringHill. Maverick Carter and Michelle Wilens are executive producers, joined by Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann of Wiedemann & Berg Film, who also produced the original Weekend Rebels.
Wood Harris, best known for The Wire, Remember the Titans, and Ant-Man, recently appeared in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Netflix’s Forever. Mark Linn-Baker has been featured in Succession, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and Ghosts. Yakov Smirnoff, a Soviet-American comedian and actor, is known for his work on King of the Hill and Dice. Didi Conn, remembered for her iconic role as Frenchy in the Grease films, recently appeared in Overcompensating and Harlan Coben’s Shelter and will be seen next in Fox’s Best Medicine.
Indie DesRoches, a young autistic actor recognized for his work in Obi-Wan Kenobi and Taylor Sheridan’s upcoming The Madison, plays a central role opposite Wahlberg and Farmiga. His casting adds an authentic and personal touch to the film’s heartwarming father-son journey.
The untitled project continues Apple’s push for emotionally grounded, character-driven storytelling and marks another collaboration between Plan B, SpringHill, and Chbosky, known for their work on stories that blend warmth, humor, and humanity.