Kevin James is trading in his mall cop scooter for a visor and a whistle. The comedian is set to play an NFL coach for his latest role, a Netflix film titled Home Team. As first reported by NBC Sports’ Peter King, James will portray Sean Payton, the famous New Orleans Saints coach.
Home Team sees James reunite with Adam Sandler, whose Happy Madison Productions will produce the upcoming film, which is being vetted by Payton himself. The Saints coach has already read the script for the movie and added a few tweaks before giving it the go-ahead.
Curious who else stars in Home Team? Wondering when Home Team premieres? Here’s what you need to know about James’ new movie Home Team and the true story behind it.
WHO IS SEAN PAYTON?
Sean Payton is the coach of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. Payton was suspended from his coaching duties in 2012 after a scandal dubbed “Bountygate” in which his team was accused of paying bounties for injuring players on opposing teams. After he temporarily stepped away from the NFL, Payton took up a new gig coaching his son’s sixth-grade football team, the Liberty Christian Warriors in Argyle, Texas.
Per Collider, Home Team focuses on the bond between Payton and his son, Connor, and how their relationship changed after his suspension. “Connor is a star athlete on the team, but he’s also a sensitive kid who has missed his dad given the coach’s fierce commitment to football over the years, so he’s still skeptical and resentful of his father, though he always defends him,” Collider’s Jeff Sneider reports. “Even if every team in the NFL was employing a ‘bounty’ system, Payton knew that what he was doing was wrong, dangerous, and ultimately not a good example for young fans who look up to him.”
HOME TEAM RELEASE DATE: WHEN DOES HOME TEAM PREMIERE ON NETFLIX?
While there’s no set release date yet for Home Team, filming on the movie is set to begin in New Orleans and Los Angeles this year. We’ll keep you posted with any updates, so keep checking back!
HOME TEAM CAST: WHO ELSE IS STARRING IN HOME TEAM?
So far, James is the biggest name attached to Home Team. But this is a Happy Madison Production, which means we could be seeing some other Sandler favorites. Stay tuned for any casting news updates on Home Team.
