Swagger (TV series)
{{Short description|American sports drama television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| genre = Sports drama
| creator = Reggie Rock Bythewood
| developer =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- O'Shea Jackson Jr.
- Isaiah Hill
- Shinelle Azoroh
- Tessa Ferrer
- Quvenzhané Wallis
- Caleel Harris
- James Bingham
- Solomon Irama
- Ozie Nzeribe
- Jason Rivera
- Tristan Wilds
}}
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 2
| num_episodes = 18
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Reggie Rock Bythewood
- Kevin Durant
- Brian Grazer
- Rich Kleiman
- Samantha Corbin-Miller
}}
| producer =
| cinematography =
| animator =
| editor =
| camera =
| runtime = 45–62 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Undisputed Cinema
- Thirty Five Ventures
- Imagine Television
- CBS Studios
}}
| budget =
| network = Apple TV+
| first_aired = {{Start date|2021|10|29}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2023|8|11}}
}}
Swagger is an American sports drama television series created by Reggie Rock Bythewood. Loosely inspired by the experiences of NBA player Kevin Durant, the series premiered on October 29, 2021 on Apple TV+.{{Cite web|title=Apple's "Swagger," from NBA superstar Kevin Durant, to make global debut on Friday, October 29|url=https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2021/09/apples-swagger-from-nba-superstar-kevin-durant-creator-reggie-rock-bythewood-and-brian-grazer-to-make-global-debut-on-friday-october-29/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Apple TV+ Press|language=en-US}} In June 2022, the series was renewed for a second season.{{cite news|last=Otterson|first=Joe|title='Swagger' Renewed for Season 2 at Apple|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/swagger-renewed-season-2-apple-1235295287|work=Variety|date=June 15, 2022|access-date=July 24, 2022}} In November 2023, the series was canceled after two seasons.{{cite web|title=Swagger Cancelled After Two Seasons|url=https://tvline.com/news/swagger-cancelled-apple-tv-plus-no-season-3-1235091047/|website=TVLine|last=Hatchett|first=Keisha|date=November 30, 2023|access-date=November 30, 2023}}
Swagger has garnered critical acclaim from critics for its writing, acting (primarily Jackson's and Hill's), production values and social commentary.
Premise
Swagger explores the world of youth basketball, and the players, their families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, and opportunism and corruption.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/oshea-jackson-jr-apple-kevin-durant-basketball-drama-swagger-recasting-winston-duke-1202852122/|title=O'Shea Jackson Jr. To Star In Apple's Kevin Durant Basketball Drama 'Swagger' In Recasting|date=February 5, 2020|author=Denise Petski|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222221015/https://deadline.com/2020/02/oshea-jackson-jr-apple-kevin-durant-basketball-drama-swagger-recasting-winston-duke-1202852122/|archive-date=February 22, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=January 15, 2021}}
Cast
=Main=
- O'Shea Jackson Jr. as Ike “Icon” Edwards
- Isaiah Hill as Jace Carson
- Shinelle Azoroh as Jenna Carson
- Tessa Ferrer as Meg Bailey
- Quvenzhané Wallis as Crystal Jarrett
- Caleel Harris as Musa Rahim
- James Bingham as Drew Murphy
- Solomon Irama as Phil Marksby
- Ozie Nzeribe as Royale Hughes
- Jason Rivera-Torres as Nick Mendez
- Tristan Wilds as Alonzo Powers
- Christina Jackson as Tonya Edwards (recurring season 1, main season 2), Ike's wife.
- Sean Baker as Naim Rahim (recurring season 1, main season 2), Swagger's deputy coach and Musa's father.
- Orlando Jones as Emory Price (season 2){{cite web|title='Swagger': Orlando Jones & Shannon Brown Join Season 2 Cast, Christina Jackson & Sean Anthony Baker Upped To Series Regulars|author=Petski, Denise|date=August 11, 2022|work=Deadline|access-date=July 16, 2023|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/swagger-orlando-jones-shannon-brown-season-2-cast-christina-jackson-sean-anthony-baker-promoted-series-regulars-1235090467/}}
- Shannon Brown as CJ Ryder (season 2), Cedar Cove basketball player
=Recurring=
- Marc Blucas as Coach Bobby, a rival team coach.
- Jordan Rice as Jackie Carson, Jenna's daughter and Jace's older sister.
- Al Mitchell as Coach Warrick, Crystal's basketball coach who abuses his players.
- Javen Lewis as Vince Charles, a Swagger player.
- Tracey Bonner as Angie Jarrett, Crystal's mother.
- Monique Grant as Kiesha Marksby, Phil's mother.
- Marti O. Pruitt as Jeremiah Jarrett, Crystal's father.
- Miles Mussenden as Brett Hughes, Royale's father and a financial backer of Swagger.
- Misha Gonz-Cirkl as Teresa Mendez, Nick's mother
- Avery Serell Wills Jr. as Ricky, a Swagger player.
- Nadej K. Bailey as Tamika, Musa's love interest
- Kurt Lamarr as Coach Charlie Edwards, Ike's father
- Arischa Conner as Apocalypse Anne
- Katie Killacky as Eva Murphy, Drew's mother
- Brian K. Landis as Warren Murphy, Drew's father
- Caroline Elizabeth Gregory as Amber Gibbons (season 2), Jace's high school girlfriend
- RJ Thomas as Johnny Fitzpatrick (season 2), Cedar Cove basketball player
- Wayne Hughes as Seymour Greyson (season 2)
- Christopher B. Duncan as Camden Ryder Sr. (season 2), CJ's father
- Vinessa Shaw as Diane (season 2), Chairwoman of the Cedar Cove Prep School Board{{cite web|title='Swagger' Adds Vinessa Shaw to Season 2 Cast (EXCLUSIVE)|author=Bell, BreAnne|date=September 1, 2022|access-date=July 23, 2023|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/swagger-vinessa-shaw-season-2-cast-exclusive-1235356550/}}
- Arlise Rae Minter as Kathryn Edwards (season 2), Ike's daughter
- Catherine Owens as Rae
- Kaci Barker as Drea
=Guest=
- Jetta Strayhorn as Michelle, Crystal's basketball teammate abused by Coach Warrick (season one)
- Andrew C. Williams as Kai
- Robert Crayton as Barber Marvin
- Marki Henderson as Waves
- Jared Wofford as Harold Phillips
- Gwen L. Johnson as Cynthia
- Tedd Taskey as Mike Reese (season 2)
- John Carlos as himself{{cite web|title='Swagger': Olympian John Carlos Drops Heavy Truths About The Prison Pipeline In Exclusive Clip|author=Jones, Monique|date=July 20, 2023|url=https://shadowandact.com/swagger-olympian-john-carlos-drops-heavy-truths-about-the-prison-pipeline-in-exclusive-clip|work=Shadow and Act}}
Episodes
{{Series overview
| color1 = #763C28
| link1 = #Season 1 (2021)
| episodes1 = 10
| start1 = {{Start date|2021|10|29}}
| end1 = {{End date|2021|12|17}}
| color2 = #68121F
| link2 = #Season 2 (2023)
| episodes2 = 8
| start2 = {{Start date|2023|6|23}}
| end2 = {{End date|2023|8|11}}
}}
= Season 1 (2021) =
{{Episode table |background=#763C28 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = NBA
|DirectedBy = Reggie Rock Bythewood
|WrittenBy = Reggie Rock Bythewood
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|10|29}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Haterade
|DirectedBy = Alex Hall
|WrittenBy = Samantha Corbin-Miller
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|10|29}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Mano a Mano
|DirectedBy = Alex Hall
|WrittenBy = Eric Simonson & Héctor Oliveras García
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|10|29}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = We Good?
|DirectedBy = Rachel Leiterman
|WrittenBy = Norman Vance, Jr.
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|5}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = 24 Hour Person
|DirectedBy = Rachel Leiterman
|WrittenBy = Katrina O'Gilvie & Steve DiUbaldo
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = All on the Line
|DirectedBy = Nijla Mu'min
|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|s=Nijla Mu'min & Danielle Iman|t=Nijla Mu'min|order=t}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|19}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = #RADICALS
|DirectedBy = Reggie Rock Bythewood
|WrittenBy = Reggie Rock Bythewood & George Dohrmann
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|25}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Still I Rise
|DirectedBy = Janice Cooke
|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|t=Samantha Corbin-Miller & George Dohrmann & Steve DiUbaldo|s=Samantha Corbin-Miller|order=t}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|3}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|EpisodeNumber2 = 9
|Title = Follow-Through
|DirectedBy = Janice Cooke
|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|t=Eric Simonson & Danielle Iman & Nijla Mu'min|s=Eric Simonson & Danielle Iman|order=t}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|10}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|EpisodeNumber2 = 10
|Title = Florida
|DirectedBy = Alex Hall
|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|t=Reggie Rock Bythewood and Norman Vance & Katrina O'Gilvie|s=Reggie Rock Bythewood & Hector Oliveras Garcia|order=t}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|17}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 763C28
}}
}}
= Season 2 (2023) =
{{Episode table |background=#68121F |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |writerR={{Cite web |title=Swagger |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/1217826/swagger/ |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=Writers Guild of America West}} |airdate= |airdateR={{cite web |title=Shows A-Z – Swaqgger on Apple TV+ |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/swagger/listings/ |website=The Futon Critic |access-date=September 29, 2021}} |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = The World Ain't Ready
|DirectedBy = Reggie Rock Bythewood
|WrittenBy = Reggie Rock Bythewood
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|23}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 68121F
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 12
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = 18
|DirectedBy = Matthew A. Cherry
|WrittenBy = Steve DiUbaldo
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|6|30}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 68121F
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 13
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = RISE + FALL
|DirectedBy = Matthew A. Cherry
|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|s=Joy Kecken & Autumn Joy Jimerson|t=Joy Kecken|order=t}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|7|7}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 68121F
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 14
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Through the Fire
|DirectedBy = Reggie Rock Bythewood
|WrittenBy = J. M. Holmes & George Dohrmann
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|7|14}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 68121F
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 15
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Are We Free?
|DirectedBy = Reggie Rock Bythewood
|WrittenBy = Reggie Rock Bythewood & Racquel Baker
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|7|21}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 68121F
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 16
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Jace + Crystal
|DirectedBy = Nijla Mu'min
|WrittenBy = Steve DiUbaldo & Autumn Joy Jimerson
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|7|28}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 68121F
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 17
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Homecoming
|DirectedBy = Katina Medina Mora
|WrittenBy = J. M. Holmes & Rebecca Murga
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|8|4}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 68121F
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 18
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Journey and Destination
|DirectedBy = Katina Medina Mora
|WrittenBy = George Dohrmann & Racquel Baker
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|8|11}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 68121F
}}
}}
Production
=Development=
Apple began developing the project in February 2018, and it was ordered in December 2018 as a sports drama television series titled Swagger from Kevin Durant and Reggie Rock Bythewood.{{Cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=February 13, 2018|title=Apple Developing Series Based on NBA Star Kevin Durant From Imagine Television|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/kevin-durant-series-apple-1202696067/|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=December 4, 2018|title=Apple Orders Kevin Durant Drama 'Swagger' to Series|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/kevin-durant-apple-series-swagger-1203079490/|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}} Bythewood will be the showrunner, writer, director, and executive producer with Durant, Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, Rich Kleiman, and Samantha Corbin Miller executive producing.{{Cite web|date=December 4, 2018|title=Kevin Durant Basketball Drama Picked Up to Series at Apple|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/apple-orders-kevin-durant-produced-basketball-drama-series-1166110|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en}} On June 15, 2022, Apple renewed the series for a second season. On November 30, 2023, Apple announced that the series was canceled after two seasons.
=Casting=
In October 2019, Deadline Hollywood reported that Winston Duke was cast as the lead, but in February 2020, Duke suffered an injury on set and was replaced with O’Shea Jackson Jr.{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=October 1, 2019|title=Winston Duke To Headline Apple's Kevin Durant Drama Series 'Swagger' From Imagine & CBS TV Studios|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/winston-duke-cast-star-swagger-apple-kevin-durant-drama-series-imagine-cbs-studios-1202748810/|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=February 5, 2020|title=O'Shea Jackson Jr. Takes Over Lead Role in Apple Basketball Drama 'Swagger' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/oshea-jackson-jr-swagger-apple-1203492592/|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}} On July 9, 2020, Quvenzhané Wallis joined the series in the role of Crystal,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/quvenzhane-wallis-to-star-in-apples-kevin-durant-basketball-drama-swagger-1202981981/|title=Quvenzhané Wallis To Star In Apple's Kevin Durant Basketball Drama 'Swagger'|date=July 9, 2020|author=Denise Petski|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902174621/https://deadline.com/2020/07/quvenzhane-wallis-to-star-in-apples-kevin-durant-basketball-drama-swagger-1202981981/|archive-date=September 2, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=January 15, 2021}} and on January 15, 2021, Isaiah Hill, Shinelle Azoroh, Tristan Mack Wilds, Caleel Harris, Tessa Ferrer, Jason Rivera, Solomon Irama, Ozie Nzeribe, and James Bingham were all revealed to have been cast.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/swagger-apples-kevin-durant-basketball-drama-cast-1234674806/|title='Swagger': Apple's Kevin Durant Basketball Drama Adds Nine To Cast|date=January 15, 2021|author=Denise Petski|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115193927/https://deadline.com/2021/01/swagger-apples-kevin-durant-basketball-drama-cast-1234674806/|archive-date=January 15, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=January 15, 2021}} On August 11, 2022, Orlando Jones and Shannon Brown joined the cast as series regulars, while Christina Jackson and Sean Baker were promoted to series regulars for the second season.{{cite news|title=Swagger: Orlando Jones & Shannon Brown Join Season 2 Cast, Christina Jackson & Sean Anthony Baker Upped To Series Regulars|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/swagger-orlando-jones-shannon-brown-season-2-cast-christina-jackson-sean-anthony-baker-promoted-series-regulars-1235090467/|work=Deadline Hollywood|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=August 11, 2022}}
=Filming=
Alongside the casting of Winston Duke, Deadline Hollywood reported that filming would occur in October 2019. After Duke’s injury in February 2020, filming was delayed due to recasting, and was then delayed even further due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By December 2020, filming restarted in Richmond, Virginia, with filming also taking place in Hopewell, Virginia in March 2021.{{Cite web|date=December 11, 2020|title=Film and TV industry bringing $120 million to Central Virginia|url=https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/film-and-tv-industry-bringing-120-million-to-central-virginia|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=WTVR|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=March 11, 2021|title=Michael Keaton, Rosario Dawson series to film in Hopewell this week|url=https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/dopesick-series-to-film-in-hopewell-virginia|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=WTVR|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Curran|first=Colleen|title=Kevin Durant's 'Swagger' filming in downtown Richmond|url=https://richmond.com/entertainment/movies-television/kevin-durants-swagger-filming-in-downtown-richmond/article_d4ae9ff4-6592-58da-8517-9644b46b97b9.html|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch|date=5 March 2020 |language=en}} In April 2021, filming wrapped for the series.{{Cite web|last1=Otterson|first1=Joe|date=2021-04-14|title=Christina Jackson Joins FX Pilot 'Spook Who Sat by the Door'|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/christina-jackson-spook-who-sat-by-the-door-fx-1234951700/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=Variety|language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|8005626}}
{{Apple TV+}}
Category:2020s American black television series
Category:2020s American drama television series
Category:2020s American sports television series
Category:2021 American television series debuts
Category:2023 American television series endings
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:American television series about teenagers
Category:Apple TV+ original programming
Category:American sports drama television series
Category:Basketball television series
Category:Television series by CBS Studios