LaKeith Stanfield will play Dennis Rodman in 48 Hours in Vegas. The 34-year-old actor will play the controversial retired basketball player in the revived film, which is inspired by the untold story of the former Chicago Bulls forward’s legendary trip to Sin City during the 1998 NBA Finals and his madcap adventures.
Dennis Rodman’s Bad as I wanna Be is a raw, unapologetic memoir that captures the chaos, excess, and self-destructive impulses at the height of his NBA fame. Framed around a notorious two-day binge in Las Vegas during the 1997 NBA season, the book blends outrageous stories of partying, fame, and rebellion with moments of vulnerability, revealing Rodman’s struggle with identity, pressure, and control.
More than just shock value, the book reflects a player pushing against authority, expectations, and his own demons, offering an unfiltered look at how celebrity, freedom, and isolation collided during one of the most infamous episodes of his career.
The fate of the film had been unknown after Jonathan Majors was dropped from the lead role nearly two years ago after being found guilty of harassing and assaulting his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. Lionsgate exited the project, but the studio is now back on board for the film, which was co-written by its director, Rick Famuyiwa, and Jordan VanDina.
LaKeith is “genuinely excited” by the project. He 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.”
Erin Westerman, president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, added: “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.”
Westerman added, “LaKeith and the incredibly talented team on this film will bring the legend to life in this most extraordinarily unbelievable story.”
Lord Miller’s Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Aditya Sood will produce, along with Nikki Baida, while executive producers include Ari Lubet, Lucy Kitada, and Rodman himself. Meredith Wieck and Pavan Kalidindi will oversee for Lionsgate.
Before he was dropped from the project, Majors had spoken of how much he was looking forward to taking on the challenge of playing the sporting maverick, comparing the role to that of his trailblazing Navy pilot Jesse Brown in Devotion. He told Variety: “His character as a man is one that is unbridled. He’s eclectic. He’s an open mind. He’s an open heart. And, selfishly, you want to play a role like that, because it’s gonna push you to that place. Jesse Brown teaches me things about my soul and spirit. I know Rodman’s going to too, and I’m just looking forward to getting into it.”
While the bulk of the film will take place in Las Vegas, there’s no mention of whether any of the production will happen in Chicago.
Can’t wait to see who plays Michael Jordan.
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