Disney Plus has released the trailer for Rise, based on the true story of the Nigerian-Greek Antetokounmpo family, from which came a trio of brothers who became the first NBA brothers in NBA history – Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounbo of the Milwaukee Bucks. and Los Angeles Laker Costas Antetokounmpo, as well as their younger brother Alex.
Premiering exclusively on Disney+ on June 24, the film tells the story of Antetokounmpo’s parents who, after emigrating from Nigeria to Athens, struggled to survive and provide for their five children.
Desperate to obtain Greek citizenship, they were threatened by a system that blocked them at every turn. When they weren’t selling smuggled goods to tourists on the streets of Athens with the rest of the family, brothers Yannis (played by Uche Agada) and Thanasis (Ral Agada) played basketball with the local youth team.
Latecomers to the sport, they discovered they had great ability 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 with a prospect that changed not only his life, but his entire family’s life. Last season, Giannis and Thanasis helped the Milwaukee Bucks to their first championship in 50 years, while Kostas played for the previous season’s champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Uprising stars Dayo Okenyi, Yetide Badaki, Manish Dayal, Taylor Nichols introduced actors Rala Agada and Uche Agada. The film was directed by Akin Omotoso (Vaya), written by Arash Amel (A Private War), and produced by Bernie Goldmann (300).
Portions of the film were filmed in Sepolia, the district of Athens where the Antetokoumpos grew up. While Giannis Antetokounmpo and Douglas S. Jones served as executive producers on the film.
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