Penske Media Corp. sister brands The Hollywood Reporter and Sportico are bringing star power and athletic excellence together in an exciting new video franchise: THR’s Game Recognize Game.
Launching Aug. 26 in tandem with THR and Sportico’s “The Sports Issue,” the multi-episode series pairs acclaimed Hollywood talent with the athletic superstars they most admire for a candid conversation at the intersection of fame, ambition and cultural influence. The debut installment unites two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali with five-time NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown, followed by a second episode pairing Off Campus sensation Belmont Cameli with NHL phenom—and the league’s newest highest-paid player—Macklin Celebrini. Additional high-profile pairings are set to drop this fall.
THR’s Game Recognize Game explores the shared pressures and rewards of life at the highest levels of entertainment and sports—from fame and fandom, money and family, adversity and the cost of success to building a brand, staying motivated, setting new goals, personal splurges, secret talents and, of course, big reveals about what comes next.
Episode 1 brings together two masters of their domains who have become outsized cultural forces. Ali, who won Oscars for Moonlight and Green Book and an Emmy for Ramy, has credits that include Leave The World Behind, Swan Song and True Detective. He next stars in the action thriller Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, debuting at The Toronto International Film Festival, and he joins the second season of HBO’s Task. Before pivoting to acting, Ali was himself a high level athlete, playing Division I basketball at Saint Mary’s on a full scholarship.
