Giannis Antetokounmpo is an NBA superstar, but it looks like he could be great in other facets. Before he made it to the NBA, Giannis had some experience as an actor. He had a little appearance in an Australian movie called ‘Dead Europe’.
The Greek Freak appeared with his mom in a short scene showing his acting skills.
Eight years later, he’s one of the most famous faces in the NBA. Patrick Casey of Brew Hoop had the chance to talk with the people behind the film, trying to find out how Giannis and his mother had a short-lived acting career.
“How did they end up in this movie,” I kept wondering. Well, as it turns out, their life experiences made them perfect fits for their roles, according to the film’s director, Tony Krawitz, who was kind enough to let me interview him over the past couple of days for this article.
Working with local casting agents, Krawitz said they “were hoping to cast a family who could play as refugees, yet seem normal and open-hearted.”
Check and check.
“I vaguely remember a young man yes and his mum—though we credited him and his mum as ‘VERA ADETO KUNBO’ and ‘YIANNIS ADETO KUNBO,’” said Liz Watts, producer of the film.
Giannis is all about basketball right now, but it looks like he could have an acting career once he retires from the game. We already saw how well Kobe Bryant did when he decided to become a writer and director, so perhaps the 2019 NBA MVP could test those waters, too.
Who would’ve thought that Giannis’ rise to stardom begun with a movie?
