Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell is getting as docuseries as he wanna be. Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders is among the producers behind “Coach Luke,” which chronicles the one-time 2 Live Crew frontman as he became a entrepreneur and the head coach of the Edison Senior High School football team in Miami. Mandon Lovett directs the docuseries, which is exec produced by SMAC Entertainment‘s Constance Schwartz-Morini, Michael Strahan and FredAnthony Smith; Swirl Films’ Eric Tomosunas and Nikki Byles; and Brian Sher and Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. No outlet is yet attached.
Campbell, of course, is remembered for the popular (and yes, raunchy) late 1980s/early 1990s rap group 2 Live Crew — which managed to even hit the Billboard charts with song titles that Casey Kasem wouldn’t say out loud on “American Top 40.” But 2 Live Crew’s lasting impact was its First Amendment fights, via Campbell and the group’s obscenity trials and Supreme Court parody cases. Campbell later entered the adult film industry, wrote a column for Miami New Times and even ran for Miami mayor.
According to the logline, “‘Coach Luke’ tells the story of a small, underfunded high school in Little Haiti, Miami, and how Campbell became the head coach of a once struggling young football team and program. In a region chalk-full of high school football powerhouses, Miami Edison High School has never been a part of that elite pedigree. Until now. Using his charisma, connections and coaching prowess, Campbell – now dubbed “Coach Luke” – has assembled Edison’s most formidable team ever, made of players from as far away as California and Texas, with the singular goal of capturing the school’s first state title in over 50 years. Throughout the series, Coach Luke will offer viewers parallel storylines – that of Uncle Luke’s unbelievable backstory and the story of this year’s football season.”
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SMAC Entertainment is also behind Amazon Prime Video’s “Coach Prime,” which follows the story of Sanders. Season 2 of “Coach Prime” premieres on Dec 7. As for “Coach Luke,” SMAC Productions and Swirl Films are co-financing the project with SMAC handling the distribution rights.
“The transformational work Coach Luke is doing at Edison High is a story that needs to be shared with the world. Not only is he creating a new powerhouse football program, but he’s providing these young athletes with outstanding mentorship and guidance at a pivotal moment in their lives,” said Constance Schwartz-Morini, CEO of SMAC Entertainment. “Now more than ever is the time to showcase these types of leaders making a positive impact in their communities.”
Added Swirl Films’ Eric Tomosunas: “‘Coach Luke’ is not just a docu-series; it’s a testament to the power of perseverance, the impact of mentorship, and the resilience of a community. We’re Honored to bring the incredible journey of Luther ‘Uncle Luke’ Campbell to the screen and shed light on the transformative role he plays in the lives of these young athletes. This series is a celebration of football, culture, and the unbreakable spirit of Miami’s Edison Senior High School.”
SMAC’s other credits include Max’s “B.S. High,” ABC’s “$100,000 Pyramid,” ESPN’s “More Than An Athlete,” HBO’s “The Cost of Winning,” E!’s “Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood,” Showtime’s “Play it Forward,” and Roku’s “The Cupcake Guys.” Swirl is behind Bounce TV’s “Saints & Sinners” and the Lifetime film “Girl in the Basement.”
