The Dennis Rodman biopic has officially found its new lead. LaKeith Stanfield has boarded 48 Hours in Vegas, a film centered on the Chicago Bulls star’s infamous midseason disappearance during the 1998 NBA Finals, a story that later became one of the most memorable moments in ESPN’s The Last Dance documentary, per EW.
Stanfield confirmed his involvement through a statement tied to the project, signaling a major casting shift after the film previously moved on from Jonathan Majors. The movie focuses on Rodman’s chaotic 48-hour trip to Las Vegas, a gamble that somehow fit within the Bulls’ championship run and Phil Jackson’s unconventional approach to managing personalities.
“I’m genuinely excited to help create an exhilarating, joyful work that both honors and thoughtfully examines the legacy of Rodman and fellow trailblazers,” Stanfield said in a statement. “Those who moved to the beat of their own drum, undeterred by the obstacles placed before them, then and now.”
Revisiting Rodman’s Wildest Bulls Chapter
Fans who watched The Last Dance will remember the Vegas story vividly. In the third episode of the 10-part series, Michael Jordan recalled how Rodman requested a break during the season as Scottie Pippen worked his way back from injury. What followed became NBA folklore.
“Dennis says, ‘I need a vacation,’” Jordan said during the documentary. He explained how Jackson ultimately agreed to a tightly controlled window. “‘Dennis, well, can your vacation be, like, 48 hours?’” Jordan recalled Jackson saying, a compromise that gave the film its title.
Rodman’s ability to disappear into chaos and return locked in became a defining part of his legend. The upcoming film aims to capture that tension, the balance between freedom and discipline that helped power one of the most dominant teams in league history.
The project originally planned to reunite Stanfield with The Harder They Fall castmate Jonathan Majors, but Majors exited the film less than a month after being found guilty of one count of assault and one count of harassment in a 2023 domestic violence trial. Stanfield now steps into the role, reshaping the direction of the biopic.
@lvfrias Lakeith Stanfield will play Dennis Rodman in new movie “48 Hours in Vegas” following Rodman’s wild trip during the nba championship #movies #dennisrodman #nba #lakeithstanfield #chicagobulls
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Rick Famuyiwa and a Familiar Creative Team
The film will be directed by Rick Famuyiwa, who also plans to write a new draft of the script. Famuyiwa previously directed The Wood and Brown Sugar, and penned the 2007 biopic Talk to Me. His more recent work has lived largely on television, including the pilot for The Chi and episodes of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka.
Famuyiwa and Stanfield have crossed paths before. Stanfield appeared in a minor supporting role in Famuyiwa’s 2015 film Dope, making 48 Hours in Vegas a more substantial reunion between the two.
Production duties fall to Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Aditya Sood, the team behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and the upcoming Project Hail Mary. Their involvement signals a stylized approach to a story already packed with personality.
Stanfield arrives at the role with an extensive resume that spans television, biopics, and franchise films. He starred for four seasons in FX’s Atlanta and earned an Oscar nomination for Judas and the Black Messiah. His recent work includes roles in Die My Love, Roofman, and Play Dirty. Up next, he will appear in I Love Boosters and the action thriller F.A.S.T.
With Stanfield now attached, 48 Hours in Vegas moves forward with fresh momentum and a lead known for channeling complex, unconventional figures, much like Rodman himself.
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