LeBron James, the NBA‘s iconic figure, transcended the hardwood and stepped onto the silver screen in the 2015 comedy hit “Trainwreck.” Amy Schumer, the creative force behind the film, chose James for a role that defied expectations.
From the very first scene, James displayed a side rarely seen during his post-game press conferences. In a role that was both relatable and hilarious, he breathed life into the character of LeBron James, the best friend of Bill Hader’s sports medicine doctor, Dr. Aaron Conners.
SPACE JAM 2, TRAINWRECK, & SMALLFOOT star Lebron James has officially set the all time NBA scoring record pic.twitter.com/VH0kmmmPaZ
— Lights, Camera, Barstool (@LightsCameraPod) February 8, 2023
However, Schumer‘s choice of LeBron for this unconventional role has an interesting reason behind it.“I just wrote him into the script because he’s the only basketball player that I’ve ever heard of, and it’s a good thing that he said yes,” Schumer explained. “I don’t know who would have done it.”
Schumer’s decision to cast LeBron was a gamble that paid off in more ways than one. James, known for his seriousness on the court, surprised everyone with his comedic timing and natural talent. Despite his larger-than-life persona, the 6’8″ basketball superstar effortlessly blended into the ensemble cast.
LeBron James’ Trainwreck earned a staggering $140 Million
Bill Hader, who had the opportunity to work with James when he hosted “Saturday Night Live,” shared how he and director Judd Apatow pitched the movie to LeBron. “He thought it was really funny, he thought it was great,” Hader recalled. “The last week of shooting was all the LeBron stuff, and we were just kind of convinced this isn’t gonna work out.”
Despite their concerns, it did work out, and LeBron James became an integral part of the film’s success. In the movie, he portrayed a romantic who had a love for “Downton Abbey” and played a vital role in Hader and Schumer’s on-screen relationship. Schumer’s gamble paid off, as Trainwreck raked in an impressive $140 million at the box office.
While Hader and LeBron hung out between takes, some aspects of their on-screen friendship didn’t quite translate to real life. Hader humorously noted, “He didn’t want to watch ‘Downton Abbey’ with me, weirdly enough,” adding that he tried to get LeBron to watch the show but received a polite decline.
Schumer, who initially had doubts about how LeBron would fit into the comedic world was pleasantly surprised by his performance. “He’s hilarious and is not at all too cool for school,” Schumer said. “He’s totally down to play around and joke about everything in his life.”
While LeBron James’ acting career has continued with other roles, his portrayal in “Trainwreck” remains a memorable moment for fans. In the film, he proved that his talent extended beyond the basketball court, leaving audiences in stitches and contributing significantly to the film’s $140 million box office success.
The Lakers star’s venture into acting didn’t stop with “Trainwreck.” He later appeared in a Space Jam sequel and explored opportunities in Hollywood. When he stepped onto the movie set LeBron showed the world a different side of himself.