Yahoo News Netflix Unveils New Sports Docuseries on Simone Biles, Jerry Jones, Olympic Men’s Basketball
Netflix is adding to its sports docuseries lineup with three new shows centered on the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics as well as Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
In partnership with the International Olympic Committee, Netflix is doing docuseries on gymnastics great Simone Biles, the U.S. men’s basketball team, and Olympic track athletes, the last of which was ordered last year and is now titled “Sprint.”
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The Biles series is titled “Simone Biles: Rising,” and will debut its first part in July ahead of the Summer Games. The series consists of four 45-minute episodes. The official description states:
“Simone Biles has unfinished business. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she was one of the biggest stories leading into the Games. But in sport, as in life, competitions do not always go as planned. And for Simone, the world had a front row seat as her private struggle with mental health exploded on the international stage – forcing her to withdraw from the competition. Since then, Simone has put in the hard work: facing the difficult traumas in her past, learning to manage her mental health, embracing her journey, and in the process, rebuilding her gymnastics from the ground up. Her courage to soar knows no bounds as this summer she plans to return to the Olympic stage once again to do what she’s always done – be the best Simone that she can be. Because through it all, Simone still rises.”
Katie Walsh is the director of the series with Gotham Chopra, Ameeth Sankaran, Giselle Parets, and Janey Miller executive producing. Religion of Sports will produce in association with the Olympic Channel.
“Sprint” will also debut in July. Season 1 of the series will follow top sprinters from the 2023 World Championships — including Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles, and Shericka Jackson. Season 2 will then pick up with them at the 2024 Olympics.
“Sprint” will be six 45-minute episodes for Season 1 and four 45-minute episodes in Season 2. Paul Martin, James Gay-Rees, and Warren Smith of Box to Box Films executive produce. The series is produced by Box to Box Films in association with the Olympic Channel.
The basketball series will consist of six 45-minute episodes and will debut in early 2025. The official description states:
“This series will follow potential medal contenders and promising hopefuls in men’s basketball as teams from across the world compete in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and qualifying events leading up to it. Alongside exclusive= behind-the-scenes access, the story of how the game of basketball became so globally competitive will be explored through generations of legends.”
Jake Rogal will serve as showrunner. Connor Schell executive produces along with Libby Geist, Aaron Cohen and Jason Hehir of Words & Pictures, Barack and Michelle Obama and Vinnie Malhotra and Ethan Lewis of Higher Ground Productions. Words & Pictures and Higher Ground produce in association with the Olympic Channel.
The productions are supported by the International Gymnastics Federation, the International
Basketball Federation, and World Athletics.
“The Olympics has the incredible power to connect fans from across the globe to collectively witness and experience the drama of sports,” said Gabe Spiter, vice president of nonfiction sports at Netflix. “We’re excited to collaborate with the International Olympic Committee to level up our storytelling around three key competitions – gymnastics, basketball and sprinting – with this unique and extensive access at Paris 2024.”
“The upcoming Netflix sports series offer a captivating glimpse into the lives of Olympic athletes who are at the heart of the Olympic Games, delivering inspiring stories and unique perspectives,” said Jérôme Parmentier, vice president for Media Rights and content partnerships at the IOC. “These series will build excitement ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which will be broadcast by our Media Rights-Holders across the globe.”
The Jerry Jones docuseries hails from Skydance Sports and NFL Films in association with Stardust Frames Productions. The series is said to feature never-before-seen footage and interviews with Jones and will document his work in reshaping the Cowboys into a dominant NFL franchise. Others featured in the series are Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, and head coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer, as well as people like President George W. Bush, Nike founder Phil Knight and Rupert Murdoch.
The show will consist of 10 45-minute episodes. David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Ross Ketover, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Keith Cossrow, Chapman and Maclain Way, and John Skipper executive produce. Chapman and Maclain Way also direct.
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