Reggie Rock Bythewood Developing Film Based on Black Little League Baseball Team That Challenged Segregation

EXCLUSIVE: Reggie Rock Bythewood (Swagger) and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Undisputed Cinema is developing the feature film Cannon Street All-Stars, based on the titular first all-Black Little League team from South Carolina. Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts and the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, both champions in their respective sports, are on board to produce.

In 1947, Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball, yet by 1955, Little League in the South remained segregated. That summer, the Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars, an all-Black team from Charleston, South Carolina, entered the state tournament, and all hell broke loose. They did not just challenge the game; they challenged the nation.

Reggie Rock Bythewood will serve as the film’s director, screenwriter, with story by Bythewood and Christopher Lee Bythewood, and producer. The film has the support of The Jackie Robinson Foundation.

The surviving members were recently honored at the Little League World Series. “We are here today, the program that we are, because of what they did,” said Patrick Wilson, CEO of Little League International.

“Last year they were honored at the Little League World Series. Now it is time to honor them on film,” shared Bythewood.

In addition to Undisputed Cinema, producers also include Debra Martin Chase and E. Monique Floyd. Mookie Betts, Cam Lewis and Omar Bradford produce through OMG Entertainment, and Stephen Curry and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett produce through Unanimous Media.

Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Debra Martin-Chase are repped by CAA and Del Shaw Moonves. Unanimous is also repped by CAA. OMG is repped by WME.