Warner Bros. Television is bringing esports to prime-time with two scripted series—one based on Rick Fox’s life for CBS and NBC’s comedy ‘The Squad’ starring Johnny Galecki.
Warner Bros. Television is expanding into the esports world with the development of two scripted television series for major networks CBS and NBC, marking one of the first instances of esports-focused scripted content on American broadcast television.
CBS has issued a pilot order for a comedy series inspired by the life of former professional basketball player and Echo Fox founder Rick Fox. The show, described by Variety as “following a recently retired pro basketball star who attempts to reconnect with his estranged son by buying an esports franchise,” will see Fox himself serve as an executive producer. He will be joined by Dan Kopelman and Kapital Entertainment executives Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor in bringing the project to life. The series aims to blend family dynamics and humor with the high-stakes world of esports, highlighting Fox’s unique journey transitioning from traditional sports into the gaming industry.
Meanwhile, NBC is developing an esports-themed comedy titled The Squad, which stars Johnny Galecki, best known for his role on The Big Bang Theory. The series will be executive produced under Galecki’s production company, Alcide Bava, with co-executive producer and Big Bang Theory writer Anthony Del Broccolo joining Galecki, along with Holly Brown and Cory Wood from Alcide Bava. While details of the plot are still limited, the show is expected to draw on comedy and team dynamics within esports, aiming to appeal to a broader television audience while introducing elements of the gaming world.
These two series represent a significant step for esports’ presence in mainstream media. While esports has occasionally appeared on television—most notably with HBO’s Ballers, which featured a League of Legends-inspired arc and a cameo by Rick Fox himself—scripted comedies centered entirely around the industry are unprecedented. The CBS and NBC projects could pave the way for further esports-themed storytelling, demonstrating the increasing cultural influence of competitive gaming beyond live streams and tournaments.
Release dates for the pilot episodes have not yet been announced, and it remains to be seen whether the networks will pick up the series for full seasons. Industry observers suggest that while Rick Fox’s autobiographical series has a built-in audience due to his high profile in both traditional and esports, The Squad may face challenges in resonating with hardcore esports fans. Nevertheless, these projects underscore Hollywood’s growing interest in integrating esports into mainstream entertainment and capitalizing on the industry’s rapid growth.
Esports Insider notes that Fox’s series, in particular, could further elevate awareness of esports while highlighting the unique crossover between traditional sports, family narratives, and gaming culture. As pilot production progresses, audiences and industry watchers alike will be eager to see whether these scripted series can successfully capture the energy and humor of the esports ecosystem for a broader television audience.
