Screenwriter Claims ‘Rez Ball’ Ripped Off Script He Sent Netflix, LeBron James Months After Production Wrapped
variety.comGene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A screenwriter has filed a copyright infringement suit against Netflix over the film “Rez Ball,” though the film was already shot by the time he shared his screenplay.
Rob Grabow alleges that the film shares unmistakable similarities with his script, entitled “The Gift of Game.” Both are stories about Native American high school basketball players who compete for the state championship. “Rez Ball” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released on Netflix in September.
It was co-written by Sterlin Harjo (“Reservation Dogs”) and produced by LeBron James. It was inspired by “Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation,” a 2019 book by Michael Powell, who shadowed the Chinle, Ariz., team during the 2016-17 season.
According to a press release from the New Mexico Film Office, the film was shot in various locations in the state in May 2023.
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