Showtime® and Kobe Bryant Find Their Muse

In a press release:

***UPDATED Wed 2/18/15: KOBE BRYANT’S MUSE premieres on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME™.

**** UPDATED Fri 12/12/14 – Added First Look Trailer ***

SHOWTIME^® AND KOBE BRYANT FIND THEIR MUSE

KOBE BRYANT’S MUSE – The New Original Feature-Length Documentary Captures a Never-Before-Seen Portrait of An Elite Athlete’s Professional and Personal Journey

LOS ANGELES (December 12, 2014) – SHOWTIME has released the first-look trailer for its feature-length documentary film, KOBE BRYANT’S MUSE, which will premiere in February on the premium network. Compelling and revelatory, this highly personal film captures a side of Kobe Bryant that the public has never seen before.

“People know me because of what I am, a basketball player,” said Bryant. “In MUSE, everyone will begin to understand who I am and how I became who I am. I created this film to open up my journey in hopes of inspiring others as they guide their own.”

“Rarely has a superstar athlete afforded this type of access and engaged in this level of self-reflection during his playing career,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®. “Throughout his NBA career, Kobe has been an intensely private person, so in many ways this film is the antithesis of the Kobe Bryant that the public has come to know. Through this film, Kobe opens his heart and his mind to the world for the first time in a deeply personal way.”

Bryant, an 18-year veteran and 16-time NBA All-Star, has earned five NBA Championships during his time in the league. At this critical juncture in his career, viewers will watch as Bryant attempts to cement his legacy, opening a window into the mind of an elite athlete still motivated to be the best, but also contemplating life after sports.

The film is created and produced by Kobe Bryant in association with Kobe Inc. and directed by Gotham Chopra.

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LOS ANGELES, CA. (April 17, 2014) – As Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant prepares for his much-anticipated return to the NBA next season, SHOWTIME is set to air the original documentary film KOBE BRYANT’S MUSE, an in-depth look into the life, inspirations and challenges facing one of the most successful and complex figures in professional sports. The feature-length documentary is directed by Gotham Chopra (Decoding Deepak, ESPN’s upcoming 30 For 30 film, The Little Master). The film is currently in production in Los Angeles and will air this fall on SHOWTIME.

“KOBE BRYANT’S MUSE will offer viewers a deep character portrait of a professional athlete who has transcended his sport to become a culture-moving personality,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports^®. “We are thrilled that Kobe has given us this unprecedented access, which will allow our viewers to witness such a challenging period of time in the life of one of the NBA’s greatest players.”

“As a lifelong Boston Celtics fan, never did I imagine I would collaborate with Laker great Kobe Bryant,” said Gotham Chopra. “Kobe’s quest for greatness transcends rivalries and I’m excited by his and SHOWTIME’s willingness to go down this rabbit hole together. I’m confident audiences will be intrigued by what comes out the other side.”

At this critical juncture in his career, viewers will watch as Bryant attempts to cement his legacy, opening a window into the mind of an elite athlete still motivated to be the best, but also contemplating life after sports. KOBE BRYANT’S MUSE will feature the successes and challenges that have shaped Bryant’s professional life as well as inform audiences who are unaware of the lesser-known aspects of his career, while offering new insights to those who have followed him closely.

The documentary will examine Bryant’s storied basketball career, detailing his mentorships, allies and rivalries that have helped shape his 18-year tenure in the NBA. The ultimate competitor for nearly two decades, a 16-time All-Star and winner of five NBA championships, Bryant dominated professional basketball until a series of recent injuries threatened to abridge his career. With unbridled access to his daily experience, the film will reveal what makes Bryant tick and the life-long inspirations that have motivated him.

Kobe Bryant’s Muse is executive produced by Kobe Bryant and Gotham Chopra in association with Mamba Media.