John C. Reilly looked completely transformed as he stepped into the shoes of former Los Angeles Lakers majority owner Jerry Buss in the first trailer for the new series Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty.
The HBO limited series charts the rise of the Lakers team of the 1980s and the its superstars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson.
The new trailer arrives on the heels of interviews with director and executive producer Adam McKay, who recently spoke about his falling out with his former business partner Will Ferrell.
What a difference! John C. Reilly looked completely transformed as he stepped into the shoes of former Los Angeles Lakers majority owner Jerry Buss in the first trailer for the new HBO series Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty
Reilly takes the spotlight from the star in the trailer raunchy opening, as he's shown in bed with a younger woman by his side.
'There's two things in this world that make me believe in God: It's sex and basketball,' he says dramatically.
But when his lover says she's sleepy, basketball seems to win out.
'Her loss,' he continues, addressing the camera directly. 'I'm about to buy a team.'
Superstar team: The HBO limited series charts the rise of the Lakers team of the 1980s and the its superstars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson; Reilly pictured with Quincy Isaiah as Johnson
Basketball obsessive: Reilly is seen in bed with a younger woman by his side. 'There's two things in this world that make me believe in God: It's sex and basketball,' he says
Missing out: But when his lover says she's sleepy, basketball seems to win out. 'Her loss,' he continues, addressing the camera directly. 'I'm about to buy a team.'
Buss' enormous wealth is emphasized with a follow-up shot of him stepping out of his mansion into his large driveway, which is littered with sports cars.
Although Reilly is older than Buss was at the time that he bought the lakers, he appears older than his 56 years thanks to his gray–blond combover and mustache, and he seems to accentuate his gut when he's standing.
'I want to build something special,' he says in voiceover. 'A real dynasty. But I need a partner.'
The action cuts to the 1979 NBA draft, where the Lakers select 'Earvin "Magic" Johnson,' who will become essential to establishing the team's legendary status.
Johnson, who's played by newcomer Quincy Isaiah, is shown shooting hoops alone on a darkened court, before there's a cut to him accepting his new jersey at the draft announcement.
Big spender: Buss' enormous wealth is emphasized with a follow-up shot of him stepping out of his mansion into his large driveway, which is littered with sports cars
First pick: 'I want to build something special,' he says in voiceover. 'A real dynasty. But I need a partner.' The action cuts to the 1979 NBA draft, where the Lakers select 'Earvin "Magic" Johnson,' who will become essential to establishing the team's legendary status
Practicing for greatness: Johnson, who's played by newcomer Quincy Isaiah, is shown shooting hoops alone on a darkened court
Match made in heaven: He looks overjoyed as he shows off his new jersey at a press conference
'With me, it's going to be exciting,' he tells the gathered journalists as the video cuts to him going in for a dunk.
Then there's a montage to illustrate the new high life Johnson leads as a Laker.
He winks out the window as he's driven through the desert in a speeding sports car, and Buss is seen ogling a group of women who appear to be trying out for the Laker Girls cheer squad, which he instituted shortly after taking over the team in 1979.
'I don't know why basketball can't feel like that,' Buss says to Johnson as the two take in a nightclub performance.
Watch that man: 'With me, it's going to be exciting,' he tells the gathered journalists as the video cuts to him going in for a dunk
Living it up: Then there's a montage to illustrate the new high life Johnson leads as a Laker. He winks out the window as he's driven through the desert in a speeding sports car
Sex appeal: Buss is seen ogling a group of women who appear to be trying out for the Laker Girls cheer squad, which he instituted shortly after taking over the team in 1979
Something new: 'I don't know why basketball can't feel like that,' Buss says to Johnson as the two take in a nightclub performance
'To me, Dr. Buss... it do,' the point guard replies.
In addition to Reilly, the trailer reveals Winning Time's incredible roster of star power.
Solomon Hughes gets little face time in the clip, but he's set to play Abdul-Jabbar, who will be incredible important to the team's success throughout the decade.
Jason Clarke is featured briefly
