Series inspired by acclaimed 'Hoop Dreams' documentary in development

"Hoops Dreams," a 1994 documentary about two high school students who aspired to make it to the NBA, is being developed into a television series.

Lena Waithe, the creator of the Showtime series "The Chi," is working on a scripted drama inspired by the documentary as part of a deal with Warner Bros. Television Group, according to Deadline's Nellie Andreeva.

Like the original documentary, the new "Hoop Dreams" will follow two African-American teenage boys living in 1990s Chicago during the Bulls' dynasty. The series is being written by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas ("S.W.A.T.," "Friday Night Lights") and has a production team that includes several people who were involved with the documentary, including director Steve James.

"'Hoop Dreams' was a very important documentary in my life growing up, it was right in my own backyard," Waithe said. "I was seeing two young Black people with dreams bigger than their backyard and watching their journeys as they also struggled and tried to understand where they fit in their families. I always knew I wanted to bring that story back because 'Hoop Dreams,' to me, is so representative of what it means to have a dream, to be from a city that you really believe in, and you're really proud to be from."

Waite noted that while she won't be basing any characters on the subjects of the documentary - William Gates and Arthur Agee - she made sure they were given a heads up about the series.

"It was so important that they know that these stories will be handled with care, the title will be handled with care," she said.