By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/28/20 – Blackjack: The Jackie Ryan Story, is based on the life of street basketball legend Jackie Ryan, one of the best streetball talents to ever lived, referred to as the “white Michael Jordan” by many around the globe. The film directed by Danny A. Abeckaser and produced by 2B Films will be hitting Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, and more on October 30th, and select theatres for wide release, plus VOD, and Redbox, through Gravitas Ventures.
The film Stars Greg Finley (as Jackie Ryan/Secret Life of American Teenager), Ashley Greene (Twilight saga), David Arquette, James Madio (Basketball Diaries), Moise Morancy, Brandon Thomas Lee, Robert Davi (who also just released a new Sinatra tribute song + video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo7gd4__6sk), Geoffrey Cantor, and Tara Westwood. With featured guest-starring roles by Michael Rapaport, Ben Lyons, Bo Dietl, and Sean Avery. Directed and produced by Danny A. Abeckaser and written by Antonio Macia. The actual Jackie Ryan also appears in the film, and was on-set daily in New York throughout filming, providing his first-hand accounts for accuracy.
Also appearing in the film including a slew of cameos are George Andreakos, Caitlin Mehner, Chanel Celaya, David Fierro, Tanz Watson, Chris Coffey, Scarlett Shoeffling, Nikolas Papastefenou, Adam Lindo, Kyle Stefanski, Jay Giannone, Reid Prebenda, Rick Salomon, Kate Hampton, Chad Gittens, Meisha Brooks, Ari Barkan, Jus Ske, Tuffy Questell, Jaylen C. Parris, Danielle Knudson, Jon Carlo, Kaci Tansey, Courtney Abbiatti, Greg Amici, Jay Parris, Shecter Lee, Jagger Davide Salguero, Bella Banos and more as well as the Harlem Wizards.
Based on an inspiring true story, Jackie Ryan, an American basketball player from Brooklyn, New York, is a hot-tempered, flamboyant, and self-centered streetball legend, whose dreams of playing professional basketball seem to have passed him by after years of hard partying and neglect. Jackie works construction alongside his overbearing father (Arquette), brother Billy (Lee), and his wisecracking best friend Marty (Madio). After being spotted at the famous West 4th basketball court for his incredible talent, Jackie (Finley) is invited to try-out for the New Jersey Nets. (Nets Coach played by Michael Rapaport). Jackie is forced to confront his inner demons, family conflicts, relationship drama (love interest played by Greene), and turn his life around.
Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxCdSH_yNHo
Follow #blackjackmovie on Instagram for updates and check it out October 30th!