Rez Ball is an upcoming American basketball film directed by Sydney Freeland that will be available on streaming service Netflix. Freedland and Sterlin Harjo adapted the screenplay from The New York Times journalist Michael Powell’s nonfiction sports novel Canyon Dreams. LeBron James is a producer on the project. An ensemble cast is set to feature Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, and Kiowa Gordon.
Synopsis
The Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team from Chuska, New Mexico, are competing for the state championship title but lose their star player.
Cast
Jessica Matten
Julia Jones
Amber Midthunder
Kiowa Gordon
Dallas Goldtooth
Cody Lightning
Ernest Tsosie
Kauchani Bratt
Devin Sampson-Craig
River Rayne Thomas
Jojo Jackson
Avery Hale
Hunter Redhorse Arthur
Henry Wilson Jr
Jaren K. Robledo
Damian Henry Castellan
Kusem Goodwind
Zoey Reyes
Production
Sydney Freeland was announced as director of the project for Netflix in August 2021. Freeland and Sterlin Harjo had written the script inspired by Michael Powell's nonfiction sports novel Canyon Dreams (2019). The project was produced by Wise Entertainment with Maurício and Katie Mota involved. That same month LeBron James and Maverick Carter were announced to have joined the project as producers via The SpringHill Company with Spencer Beighley and Jamal Henderson executive producers for SpringHill.
Filming
In April 2023, Deadline Hollywood reported that principal photography was underway and taking place in New Mexico with filming on the Navajo Nation, with the permission and support of the local sovereign tribal nations.