The Gang Makes a Documentary.
As ESPN's "The Last Dance" documentary on Michael Jordan is set to debut on Sunday, many in the sports world are buzzing with anticipation over the footage that has been locked in the NBA's video library for the last 18 years.
Many have tried to get their hands on the footage before producer Mike Tollin was able to reach an agreement with Jordan in 2016 to do the 10-part series.
Among those who pitched themselves as the ones to produce the film included legendary directors, such as Frank Marshall, Spike Lee and even ... Danny DeVito.
Yes, that is right. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the “Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star was among those who wanted to be the one to produce the Michael Jordan documentary.
DeVito is a basketball fan and has been a producer on several projects throughout his long movie and TV career, and he also has ties to Jordan.
In case you forgot, DeVito voiced Swackhammer — the alien boss who wanted to beat the Looney Tunes in a game of basketball — in the 1996 movie “Space Jam,” which starred Jordan.
Despite that connection, DeVito, like the others, could not even get a face-to-face meeting with the NBA Hall of Famer.
Instead, Tollin — whose work includes "Coach Carter" and ABC's "Smallville" — got to sit down with Jordan one-on-one on the day of the Cleveland Cavaliers championship parade in 2016.
It was Tollin's work on a 2014 documentary on Allen Iverson, titled "Iverson," that grabbed Jordan's attention, and ultimately sealed the deal to make "The Last Dance."
Per Shelburne, Jordan told Tollin, “I watched that thing three times. Made me cry. Love that little guy,” and proceeded to shake Tollin’s hand and said, “Let’s do it.”
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM Sports
Twitter | Facebook I Instagram