"My Other Home,” a Chinese-language movie about Stephon Marbury’s post-NBA career in China, is gaining backing from the SK Global joint venture between Ivanhoe Pictures and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.
SK Global is co-financing and co-producing with China’s Hairun Pictures. Ivanhoe co-produced the South Korean hit “The Wailing” with Fox International.
Based on the life of former NBA star Marbury, who plays himself in the film, the story chronicles Marbury’s rise to stardom, his subsequent troubles with the NBA, and his ultimate transition to playing professional basketball in China.
Marbury, who played 15 seasons in the NBA, has found great success while playing professional basketball in China. He currently plays for the Beijing Ducks and has helped the team to three Chinese Basketball Association championships. The film has been shooting in Beijing and moves to New York at the end of June.
Ivanhoe has partnered with Chinese production company and main investor Hairun, and Chinese co-investors Beijing Forbidden City Film Co. and Desen International Media. The film, which has applied for official Chinese-U.S. co-production status, is written and directed by Chinese helmer Larry Yang, who won best screenwriter and best director awards for his Chinese production “Mountain Cry” at the Shanghai International Film Festival Media Focus Awards.
Ivanhoe President John Penotti said, “This is a terrific story, with appeal to both Chinese and Western audiences, about a Westerner who re-defined himself in China, and how China in turn embraced him. Ultimately, Marbury’s story is very inspirational, about second chances and perseverance through adversity.”
Victoria Hon is producing and said several roles are cast with non-Chinese actors, including Jessica Jung, a former member of the hit Korean pop group Girls’ Generation, in addition to such athletes as retired NBA star Allen Iverson, who will also play himself in the film, and two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis.
Chinese actors Wu Chun, Vivian Dawson, Godfrey Gao, and Sunny Wang also appear in the movie.
Marbury was an NBA All-Star in 2001 and 2003 and played for the Timberwolves, the Nets, the Suns and the Knicks during his career. He moved to China in 2010 and led the Beijing Ducks to its first CBA championship in 2012 and another two championships in 2014 and 2015.