Report: Mark Wahlberg contacting big-name directors for Caron Butler biopic
It's the year 2017, and in keeping with the trend of news headlines looking like they've been ripped out of a Mad Libs exercise, Hollywood superstar Mark Wahlberg is angling to bring on a big-name director to helm the biopic he's producing based on the life of retired NBA All-Star Caron Butler.
Wahlberg has approached reigning Best Director Oscar winner Barry Jenkins ("Moonlight"), Oscar nominated Spike Lee ("Do the Right Thing," "He Got Game"), and longtime collaborator Peter Berg ("Lone Survivor," "Patriot's Day") to gauge interest in directing the project based on Butler's tumultuous rise into basketball stardom, sources told TMZ.
In addition to his role as a producer on the project, Wahlberg reportedly intends to have a significant on-screen presence - though presumably not by playing a 15-year-old Butler.
That's a lot of information to digest, so feel free to pause for a moment and take a deep breath.
Butler released his memoir, "Tuff Juice," in October 2015, just before the start of his final NBA season. He made back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2007 and 2008 as a member of the Washington Wizards, and earned a championship ring as a member of the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks, though an injury prevented him from playing in that Finals.
In 14 seasons spread across nine franchises, Butler averaged 14.1 points, five rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.