Dwayne Wade Turning Fatherhood Story Into Sitcom
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is taking his story of fatherhood to television, looking for some laughs.
The Miami Heat guard has sold a sitcom to Fox, through Sony Pictures Television. It's the story of an NBA star who gets full custody of his two young sons. With a working title of "Three The Hard Way," it's the first television project announced by Wade's ZZ Productions, a company that bears the initials of his sons' first names.
"I will be involved," Wade said. "I'll be very involved."
Many details have not been announced, including who will play Wade in the show.
"Haven't figured that out yet," Wade said. "But I'm sure it'll be somebody very handsome."
Wade was awarded custody of his sons in April 2011, ending what was a long and often-vengeful fight with his ex-wife. The couple was divorced in 2010, though some legal matters between them remain unresolved.
That story is not a funny one. Wade has often spoken of how difficult it was for him, and it clearly was not easy for his sons to handle, either. But Wade said that when he watched "The Cosby Show," he would see a mix of laughter and life lessons.
He's hoping the same can happen with this project, and believes writer Ben Watkins can pull it off.
"I think I've got a great writer," Wade said. "I think Ben is a great writer. I think he's going to be able to pull the comedy out of the dark moments. That's the one thing before I sold my story that I said, I want to be able to bring some light into the dark times and I want somebody who can do that. I think Ben is the guy who kind of can do that."
Wade said the idea for a show came to him while he was working on his book "A Father First," which was released in September 2012. Wade, who is represented by CAA, said he went before television executives and pitched it himself.
His sons, he said, are anxious to know who will play them on the show. And also unclear: if Wade's actress girlfriend Gabrielle Union will be a part of it.
"She might have a small role," Wade said. "You never know."
Wade and Mike Tollin, one of the executive producers, sold the project to Fox earlier this year. Watkins was brought on board over the summer. The description of the show describes the plot as "no matter how misinformed, misguided, or unfit Team Wade may be, they have a trump card that can't lose. It's called love."
"All the chips are there," Wade said. "Now hopefully everybody eats."
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