Disney+ today released the trailer for Rise, based on the triumphant real-life story about the remarkable family that gave the world the first trio of brothers to become NBA champions in the history of the league: Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Kostas Antetokounmpo of the Los Angeles Lakers, and their younger brother Alex. The film will debut June 24, 2022, exclusively on Disney+.
Audiences have never seen a story like that of the Antetokounmpos. After emigrating from Nigeria to Greece, Charles and Vera Antetokounmpo (Dayo Okeniyi and Yetide Badaki, respectively) struggled to survive and provide for their five children, while living under the daily threat of deportation. With their eldest son still in Nigeria with relatives, they were desperate to obtain Greek citizenship but found themselves undermined by a system that blocked them at every turn. When they weren’t selling items to tourists on the streets of Athens with the rest of the family, brothers Giannis (Uche Agada) and Thanasis (Ral Agada) would play basketball with a local youth team. Latecomers to the sport, they discovered their great abilities on the basketball court and worked hard to become world class athletes, along with brother, Kostas (Jaden Osimuwa). With the help of an agent, Giannis entered the NBA Draft in 2013 in a long shot prospect that would change not only his life, but the life of his entire family. And last season, Giannis and Thanasis helped bring the Milwaukee Bucks their first championship ring in 50 years, while Kostas played for the previous season champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rounding out the cast of Rise are Manish Dayal and Taylor Nichols.
The film was directed by Akin Omotoso, written by Arash Amel, and produced by Bernie Goldmann. Giannis and Douglas S. Jones serve as the executive producers.
