Dwayne Johnson and Issa Rae Team for Backyard Wrestling Series at HBO

[Thebadguy]

Dwayne Johnson, Issa Rae, and Dany Garcia are set to executive produce a half-hour series in development at HBO about the creation of a backyard wrestling promotion, Variety has learned exclusively.

The project is currently titled “TRE CNT” (a.k.a “TRE COUNT”) and hails from writer Mohamad El Masri. The series focuses on Cassius Jones, a young dock worker and struggling pro-wrestler, who uses inherited life-insurance money for start-up cash and the deed to a shotgun house from his grandfather to start a hip-hop centric backyard wrestling empire in Houston’s Third Ward (The Tre) with the help of his working-class family, neighbors, and friends.

El Masri is an executive producer on the project in addition to writing. Judah Miller will executive produce and serve as showrunner. Johnson and Garcia will executive produce along with Hiram Garcia under their Seven Bucks Productions banner. Rae and Montrel McKay will executive produce via Issa Rae Productions. Dave Becky, Tom Lassally, and Jonathan Berry will executive produce for 3 Arts Entertainment.





Johnson’s involvement brings a layer of authenticity to the project, as he previously wrestled as The Rock in WWE. During his time with that promotion, he rose to be one of the most famous pro wrestlers of all time, winning numerous championships and regularly headlining major pay-per-views.

The show also deepens Rae, Garcia, and Johnson’s relationships with HBO. Rae currently stars in, executive produces, and co-created the critically-acclaimed the HBO series “Insecure.” The fourth season of that show bowed April 12. Johnson and Garcia executive produced the series “Ballers,” on which Johnson also starred. The fifth and final season of that show concluded on HBO in October 2019.

Seven Bucks most recently produced Johnson’s film “Jumanji: The Next Level” and “Fast and Furious Present: Hobbs & Shaw,” as well as many of Johnson’s other theatrical releases. The company also produces shows like “The Titan Games,” “Finding Justice,” and “Rock the Troops.” Seven Bucks is also producing Johnson’s upcoming films, including “The Jungle Cruise,” which is based on the Disney ride of the same name.

In addition to her work on “Insecure,” Rae is an executive producer on the HBO comedy “A Black Lady Sketch Show.” She made her film debut in the drama “The Hate U Give.” Her other recent film credits include “The Photograph” and “The Lovebirds,” with the latter film set to debut on Netflix on May 22 after its theatrical release was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

El Masri’s previous credits include “Here and Now” at HBO and the recently-released Netflix series “October Faction.” He is also a supervising producer on the upcoming Brie Larson CIA series at Apple. Miller has previously worked on HBO shows like “Crashing” and “Vice Principals,” as well as shows like “American Dad” and “King of the Hill.”

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/dw...-dany-garcia-hbo-wrestling-series-1234584923/

 

[Norrin Radd]

First Heels now this. Wrestling getting that mainstream push?

 

[FromStLouis]

First Heels now this. Wrestling getting that mainstream push?

More like everyone else has realized they can do pro-wrestling better than the industry.

Everyone else realizes there has to be a story and characters.

Wrestling is getting that mainstream push, but the same can't be said for the promotions.

Also I need to watch GLOW season 3.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

There’s a few wrestling shows in the pipeline none have come to fruition yet I’ll reserve my excitement

 

[Homer Simpson]

jumping off the roof onto light tubes finally paid off

 

[PlayerNinety_Nine]

In.

I'll always fukk with the idea of a company in tune with Black culture, even if it is in a fictional setting.

They need to cast Westside Gunn as a manager in it too.

Matter of fact - on a side note, I'm kind of surprised that no Black wrestlers on the indies have borrowed from WSG's style/ aesthetic.

 

[The Rainmaker]

Oh, it's a backyard wrestling THEMED series.

Thought they were to actually broadcast from someone's backyard

 

[THE 101]

I'll always give Rock due for not turning his back on wrestling or pretending it doesn't exist since going to Hollywood.

He clearly still loves this shyt.

 

[JerseyBoy23]

First Heels now this. Wrestling getting that mainstream push?

Maybe. I thought that Mickey Rourke movie would give a mini-boom but I kind of came and went.

 

[mannyrs13]

First Heels now this. Wrestling getting that mainstream push?

Is that out or in production or what?

 

[Norrin Radd]

Is that out or in production or what?

Nah, the scripts are written but I'm pretty sure it hasn't even started shooting yet. Corona will probably delay it even further.

 

[Kidd Dibiase]

In.

I'll always fukk with the idea of a company in tune with Black culture, even if it is in a fictional setting.

They need to cast Westside Gunn as a manager in it too.

Matter of fact - on a side note, I'm kind of surprised that no Black wrestlers on the indies have borrowed from WSG's style/ aesthetic.

Same shyt i was thinking, his voice and his adlibs would make for one annoying ass heel

 

[TheAlbionist]

 

[Prince Akeem]

Maybe. I thought that Mickey Rourke movie would give a mini-boom but I kind of came and went.

I remember when people said Nacho Libre was going to start a boom.


These movies and TV series really don't translate to any real interest in active promotions. End of the day the product itself has to catch fire.

 

[Potential Spam]

Oh, it's a backyard wrestling THEMED series.

Thought they were to actually broadcast from someone's backyard

Gotta have a watch party for this doc one day:
Watch The Backyard Online | Vimeo On Demand