While his Entourage partners Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson have found continued success at the network, first with a few seasons of How to Make it in America, and with Boardwalk Empire earning nominations left and right, Doug Ellin has now watched HBO pass on his latest two pilot projects. The most recent pilot from the producer that didn't get picked up was Da Brick. Deadline reports that the network decided not to go ahead with the drama loosely based on boxer Mike Tyson's formative years in New Jersey.
The script from John Ridley is said to have used the character Donnie, a troubled young black boxer, to explore what it's like to grow up in what we call 'post racial America.' The main reason I'm disappointed to see the Spike Lee directed project get passed up was missing the chance to see Attack the Block's John Boyega play the Tyson inspired Donnie. Oh well, perhaps now that he's free, HBO will pursue him for Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight.