Dennis Rodman’s movie is in production (Image via Getty Images) A fresh face is going to take on the role of the iconic Chicago Bulls star in the Dennis Rodman biopic. Lionsgate’s 48 Hours in Vegas, which focuses on the Bulls’ infamous trip to Vegas during the 1998 NBA Finals, has cast Lakeith Stanfield to play Dennis Rodman. Stanfield takes over the role after the departure of Jonathan Majors, who quit the project in light of his 2023 assault conviction.. 48 Hours in Vegas is finally back on track after being in limbo for almost two years. It is based on the little-known tale of Dennis Rodman’s historic journey to Las Vegas during the 1998 NBA Finals, when Rodman’s Chicago Bulls were about to win their second straight three-peat title in eight years.
LaKeith Stanfield steps in to bring Dennis Rodman’s wild Vegas story back to life on the big screen
In the Lionsgate movie, which is based on the epic mid-Finals trip to Las Vegas made by the former Chicago Bulls star during the 1998 NBA Finals, LaKeith Stanfield will play Dennis Rodman. The long-delayed project has a new direction thanks to director Rick Famuyiwa.According to a release, the upcoming comedy is “inspired by the untold story of Dennis Rodman’s legendary trip to Las Vegas during the 1998 NBA Finals, just as Rodman’s Chicago Bulls are on the verge of completing their second consecutive three-peat championship in eight years.”Stanfield said in a statement: “I’m genuinely excited to help create an exhilarating, joyful work that both honors and thoughtfully examines the legacy of Rodman and fellow trailblazers,” “Those who moved to the beat of their own drum, undeterred by the obstacles placed before them, then and now.”Less than a month after being found guilty of one count of assault and one count of harassment in a 2023 domestic violence trial, Jonathan Majors, Stanfield’s co-star from The Harder They Fall, was removed from the film.Lionsgate Motion Picture Group President Erin Westerman, said:“Dennis Rodman is more than a basketball player, more than a personality—he’s an entire cultural phenomenon. His bold style and physical presence, combined with an iconic persona, created a larger-than-life impact on and off the court.. There’ll never be another like him. LaKeith and the incredibly talented team on this film will bring the legend to life in this most extraordinarily unbelievable story.”
LaKeith Stanfield’s casting gives the long-stalled Dennis Rodman film a bold fresh start
Aditya Sood, Chris Miller, and Phil Lord of Lord Miller will produce the movie. Ari Lubet, Rodman, and Lucy Kitada are executive producers, and Nikki Baida is a co-producer. Robert Melnik negotiated the agreements on behalf of the studio, while Meredith Wieck and Pavan Kalidindi will manage the project for Lionsgate.Stanfield recently replaced Jonathan Majors, who was dropped from the movie in January 2024 following his 2023 assault conviction. The recasting allowed Lionsgate and the filmmakers to start the production again with a lead that could truly represent Rodman’s frenetic energy and cultural impact.Also read: Chicago Bulls’ Josh Giddey’s fiery clash with courtside fan steals spotlight in tense NBA Cup showdown