In 2016, Jamie Foxx and a plethora of Hollywood megastars began filming All-Star Weekend. The basketball-themed comedy was the talk of the town seeing as it was the Oscar-winning actor’s directorial debut. Heaps of A-listers boarded, including the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Gerard Butler, Eva Longoria, and many more.
Despite such a stellar cast, All-Star Weekend has never seen the light of day. Principal photography wrapped in 2017 and the film was marked as completed. So, what went so wrong? And will this movie ever grace the silver screen or will it simply keep gathering dust on the shelves of Front Row Center Films?
What Is the Plot of All-Star Weekend?
Jamie Foxx was incredibly proud of this movie when it entered production, serving as not only the lead star but writer and director as well. Thanks to its stacked cast and the intrigue around Foxx’s first leap behind the camera, All-Star Weekend quickly developed momentum. In terms of the movie’s plot, at the time, not much was known other than the fact that it was set to be a comedy centred around two best friend’s who form a bitter rivalry over their favourite American basketball player.
Foxx co-wrote the screenplay with comedian and first-time screenwriter Speedy Caldwell, and actress and stuntwoman Audra Kinkead. With such an eclectic blend of talent at the helm, it’s safe to say the movie would have likely been a comedy that melded together other genres. However, it could be that we will never find out due to the film facing controversy before it even got the chance to release.
Cancellation Before Inception: What Happened?
The case of All-Star Weekend never hitting movie theaters isn’t really about cancellation or backlash from the public, it is more about the people behind the scenes pulling the plug before that could happen. When Speaking with CinemaBlend, Foxx delved into the reasons the movie never came to light with the primary factor in shelving the flick being his recognition of comedy’s evolving landscape. Foxx admitted that the movie included some content he thought would be troublesome, voicing worry that these contentious aspects might pose serious obstacles to the project’s success and acceptance.
It has become more typical in today’s cultural environment for bold or controversial films to be the subject of harsh criticism and backlash, sometimes even before they are seen by the general public. To that, studios are now more hesitant to release material that could be interpreted as straddling social or cultural lines. So, instead of taking the chance of PR catastrophes, they frequently decide to put projects on hold.
The primary concern surrounding All-Star Weekend centred on Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of a Mexican character, which many anticipated would be viewed as culturally inappropriate. This represents a striking example of how dramatically the entertainment landscape has shifted in recent years. Downey Jr. had previously received critical acclaim and even an Oscar nomination for his controversial performance in Tropic Thunder, where he appeared in “blackface” as part of the satirical commentary. What was once considered bold artistic choice in 2008 would likely be met with fierce criticism today. This evolution in cultural sensitivity and accountability has fundamentally altered what studios consider commercially viable, leading to the preemptive burial of projects like All-Star Weekend that might have found audiences in a different era. Yet, seeing as this kind of culture seems to be maintaining, or even gaining momentum, the best chance audiences have of seeing the film is with Jamie Foxx’s leaked teaser trailer on YouTube.
Who Else Was Set to Star in All-Star Weekend?
As mentioned, Robert Downey Jr. was set to play a Mexican man, reportedly inspired by his zany character in Ben Stiller‘s Tropic Thunder. Jeremy Piven filmed his scenes as Danny, the best friend to Jamie Foxx’s main character Malik. The plot was rumored to be centred on the pair as they head to Los Angeles from Indiana to attend a Basketball game and cross paths with a series of oddballs along the way. Gerard Butler’s character, listed as ‘Russian Gymnast Fan’, was believed to be one of these wacky people, as can be seen in the screengrabs of him wearing a prisoner’s uniform. The impressive ensemble also features Benicio Del Toro, Snoop Doog, and Terrence Terrell, portraying famed NBA superstar Lebron James. Although it has nearly been a decade, many members of the cast have expressed hopes and desires for the film to one day see the light of day. But for now, it’s not looking likely.
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