Legendary actor Laurence Fishburne will transform into NBA coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers in the upcoming FX limited series, “Clipped.” Fishburne will portray Rivers in his turbulent time as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers during the infamous downfall of team owner Donald Sterling (Ed O’Neil) in 2013.
Based on ESPN’s buzzworthy podcast, “The Sterling Affairs,” the series examines the fallout from Sterling’s infamous racist rants captured on secret recordings heard around the world. Once the recordings went public, Sterling’s complex world of owning a high-profile sports team, a tumultuous marriage, a stardom-seeking mistress, and a cast of various other shady characters all came crashing down leading to his forced sale of the Clippers.
The series will also focus on Rivers’ tenure with the team in the midst of the storm as he attempts to manage a promising roster in pursuit of a title while dealing with a sensitive and unpredictable owner who could also be abrasive.
The ensuing power struggle over influence on the team is just one of many both men will face throughout the series.
Fishburne and O’Neil will lead the project with the help of a powerful ensemble cast featuring Cleopatra Coleman, Clifton Davis, Corbin Bernsen, Harriet Sansom, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Jacki Weaver, Kelly AuCoin, Rich Sommers, and Sansom Harris among others.
“Clipped” is scheduled to tip off with two initial episodes on FX and Hulu on June 4 with additional episodes released on subsequent Tuesdays.
Check out the trailer below.
