Report: HBO’s Ballers is Getting Sued
Ballers, HBO’s sports comedy, has been hit with a copyright lawsuit.
HBO has a bit of a lawsuit on their hands. Ballers, the Entourage clone sports comedy starring Dwayne Johnson, is a bit of a high-profile project for the network. Not only due to the star power of Johnson, but it is also executive produced by Mark Wahlberg. Being a large production also means have a large target on your back.
More from HBO
- HBO expects House of the Dragon season 2 release in summer 2024
- HBO delays three hit shows to 2025 but one big show is still coming in 2024
- Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty will end its run on HBO
- Winning Time season 2, episode 7 recap: “What Is and What Should Never Be”
- Winning Time season 2, episode 6 recap: “Beat L.A.”
Ballers, including Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, and HBO itself, have found themselves the target of a copyright lawsuit. According to Deadline, Ballers is being sued by two writers: Everette Silas and Sherri Littleton. The two were responsible for the concept of Off Season, which apparently bears a great resemblance to Ballers.
More from Show Snob
- The Santa Clauses season 2, episode 6 recap “Wanga Banga Langa!”
- Lawmen: Bass Reeves season 1, episode 7 preview: Non-spoiler thoughts for Part VII
- Goosebumps season 1, episode 6 recap: “Night of the Living Dummy”
- Beacon 23 season 1, episode 3 recap: “Why Can’t We Go on as Three?”
- Upload season 3, episode 2 recap: “Strawberry”
Off Season never came to light, but it apparently did involve HBO and Mark Wahlberg back in 2009. Due to not fully disclosed reasons, the deal fell through. After that, Ballers was born. According to Silas and Littleton, the deal stipulated that they would have had to erase their names from the credits. Not exactly a great deal, if true.
For its part, HBO isn’t concerned with the suit. In a statement they stated that they were “confident that the case has no merit.” They’re probably right. These sorts of copyright lawsuits pop of frequently, and are just as frequently waved off. It’s doubtful that it will be enough to stop the juggernaut that is Ballers, which currently sits at a 65 on Metaritic.
Next: HBO got its Mike Nichols documentary into Sundance at the last-minute.
Ballers will be back for a second season, lawsuit be damned. You know, for those invested in what crazy hijinks Johnson gets himself into in his charmed life. For those with different tastes, The Leftovers is getting a third season.