‘Rise’ will debut on Disney+ this year
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family recently visited Walt Disney Studios to watch an early cut of the movie about their journey.
“Cannot wait to share it with the world,” Antetokounmpo tweeted Monday night along with a picture of him with his mom, Veronica, and his brother Thanasis.
I had a fantastic day at Disney Studios, witnessing an early edit of the film about my family’s experience. I can’t wait to share it with the rest of the world.
“Rise” is directed by Akin Omotoso (Vaya), produced by Bernie Goldmann, and executive produced by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The film, originally titled “Greek Freak” but then altered to “Rise,” combines Nigerian ancestry, Greek identity, and exceptional physical talent.
The film will follow the Antetokounmpo family on their trip from Nigeria to Greece to the United States. It will be an inspiring story about how a family helped three NBA champions, Giannis, Thanasis, and Kostas, establish their careers.
Giannis and Thanasis both play for the Milwaukee Bucks and are world champions in 2021, while their brother Kostas won the title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
A press release from Disney+ explains part of the movie and journey as such: “After emigrating to Greece from Nigeria, Vera and Charles Antetokounmpo struggled to survive and provide for their five children, while living under the daily threat of deportation. With their oldest son still in Nigeria with relatives, the couple were desperate to obtain Greek citizenship but found themselves undermined by a system that blocked them at every turn. When they weren’t selling items to tourists on the streets of Athens with the rest of the family, encouraged by their father, the brothers would sneak away to play basketball with a local youth team. Latecomers to the sport, they discovered their great abilities on the basketball court and worked hard to become world class athletes. With the help of an agent, Giannis entered the NBA Draft in 2013 in a long shot prospect that would change not only his life but the life of his entire family.”