When LeBron James takes the floor this season for the Los Angeles Lakers, we know he will be playing with a star-studded cast. But he’s also teaming up with some heavy hitters before then, only this time in the film industry. That’s right, James is partnering with YouTube Originals to produce a groundbreaking documentary called ‘I Promise.’
The documentary initially premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Festival but will be released on the YouTube Originals channel on Tuesday, September 28 at noon ET/9 am PT.
In 2018, when James helped launch The “I Promise” school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, the goal was to help at-risk children pursue higher education. James’ new project will provide an in-depth look at the school’s first academic year.
‘I Promise’ director is award-winning Marc Levin with James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, Philip Byron, Nicholas Lopez, Marc Levin, Dan Levin, Catherine Cyr, and Josh Gold serving as executive producers. James’s media company, Springhill Company, will also be receiving credit as an executive producer.
As part of their press release, YouTube Originals detailed how the film will offer an intimate look at some of the school’s challenges in its first year of being open and how students and educators across the country can overcome some of those same obstacles.
LeBron James is coming off of a blockbuster theatre release.
James’ latest movie ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ received mixed reactions, but this documentary will be unique in that the focus won’t be on James, the individual, but instead on his efforts to close the achievement gap that has affected so many people where he grew up.
Of all the philanthropic things James has done, it’s safe to speculate that the ‘I Promise’ school is something he holds near and dear to his heart.
This film seeks to capture not only that emotion on screen for viewers but also the process of changing lives one student at a time.