If you watched ESPN's documentary series "The Last Dance" and thought to yourself, "This needed more Dennis Rodman," we've got some great news for you.
Rodman's infamous two-day trip to Las Vegas during the Bulls' 1997-98 championship season will serve as the inspiration for an upcoming movie titled, "48 Hours in Vegas." Rodman will be a producer on the Lionsgate film, which promises to "take audiences on Rodman's madcap adventure."
MORE: Remembering Rodman's wild dating history
"There's only one Dennis Rodman. In 1998, there was nobody on Earth who'd be more fun — or maybe more dangerous — to party with," said Nathan Kahane, president of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group, in a news release. "And yet that's not even half of who he is. This movie takes you on an unforgettable ride with the myth, the legend, and also the man that Dennis is, behind everything you think you know."
"The Last Dance" director Jason Hehir touched on Rodman's trip during "The Last Dance," memorably sharing Michael Jordan's description of what happened with Rodman and Bulls forward Scottie Pippen, who had missed a portion of the season with an injury. Pippen's absence put more pressure on Rodman, and though he performed admirably as Chicago's No. 2, Bulls coach Phil Jackson sensed that he needed to allow Rodman to take a break.
"When Scottie was out, Dennis was a model citizen, to a point where it was driving him f—ing insane," Jordan said. "So, when Scottie came back, Dennis wanted to take a vacation."
Dennis Rodman’s infamous ‘48 hours in Vegas’ during the 1998 NBA Finals is going to be a movie 🍿
— br_betting (@br_betting) August 31, 2021
(🎥: ’The Last Dance') pic.twitter.com/FKuysBLHEI
The excursion took a few twists and turns — including a lot of partying with his then-girlfriend Carmen Electra — but Rodman ultimately returned to the team and helped the Bulls complete their second three-peat of the decade. That story is just a small part of what made the Hall of Famer one of the most fascinating figures in NBA history.
"Dennis refused to follow the herd," producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller said. "That is what made him a target and it's also what made him a star. His weekend in Las Vegas is full of fun and hijinks but it is also full of important questions about the way public figures, and workers are treated, especially when their individuality is expressed so vividly."
Get your popcorn ready, folks.
