HBO has passed on its Spike Lee/Doug Ellin-produced pilot Da Brick.
The cable channel has decided to decline the boxing drama, which was based as a new concept of what it means to be a young, black man in a post-racial America.
Da Brick production team had already signed on actor John Boyega to play Donnie, the character who after his release from a juvenlie detention center on his 18th birthday begins to learn what it means to be a man for himself.
Former Heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, Ellin and his producing partner Jim Lefkowitz were listed as nonwriting executive producers. Azim Spicer was attached as a nonwriting co-executive producer and Lee would have directed the show. John Ridley was set to write the pilot.
Da Brick was slated to reflect Tyson’s upbringing. It just one of the many projects Tyson has been recently involved in. He has been appeared in the Hangover movies as well as having his own show on Animal Planet called Taking on Tyson. Last season, he was seen on the hit series Entourage.
Ellin has been having a rough time in the industry lately. Just last week, HBO passed on his show 40, a comedy pilot about a group of guys (Ed Burns, Michael Rapaport, Michael Imperioli and Adrian Pasdar) living life to the fullest after 40.
Doug Ellin is currently under an overall contract with HBO.