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There are lots of great actors and cool cameos in Adam Sandler’s latest movie, but the real star? The City of Philadelphia.
“Hustle” is not only set in Philly, many scenes were actually filmed here. Netflix just released the first teaser, and even though it’s only a minute long, it contains plenty residents will recognize, including several current Sixers players.
Basketball is key to the movie’s plot, in which Sandler plays a washed up scout who finds a diamond in the rough in Spain and tries to help him make it in the NBA. Queen Latifah, Robert Duvall, and Ben Foster co-star.
With LeBron James as co-producer, basketball authenticity is already built in, but it goes further: the film’s up-and-coming athlete is played by real-life Utah Jazz forward Juancho Hernangómez.
The Philadelphia cred comes courtesy of the director, Jeremiah Zagar. He’s the son of mosaic muralist Isaiah Zagar, of Magic Gardens fame, and talks about growing up roaming around South Philly and renting movies from TLA Video.
“Hustle” is set for release on June 10.
Meantime, check out the teaser clip — appropriately soundtracked with Meek Mill’s “Ima Boss” — and look for these local faces and places as you watch.
People
- Tyrese Maxey — Second year Sixers guard, won over the city this season handling point guard duties in the absence of Ben Simmons
- Tobias Harris — SIxers forward acquired in 2019, signed a controversial maximum contract the following offseason, has averaged 19 points and 7 rebounds per game during his four seasons with the team
- Matisse Thybulle – Sixers forward, one of the best defenders in basketball in just his third year in the league
- Kyle Lowry — Miami Heat point guard who grew up in North Philadelphia, played college ball at Villanova, and once started a now-defunct Philly-based drink company named Famjuice
- Boban Marjanović — Former Sixers center during the 2018-2019 season, 7’4″ tall, best friends with Tobias Harris, has ridiculously massive hands, currently playing center for the Dallas Mavericks
- Seth Curry — Former Sixers sharpshooting guard, brother of Steph Curry, casualty of the James Harden swap with Brooklyn
Places
- Basketball mural — Located at Broad and Federal, Mural Arts’ “Beyond the Court” was completed in 2017 by artist Ernel Martinez, following a design by local fifth grader Brendan Dougherty. It features Sixers legends including Allen Iverson, Dr. J, Bobby Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, and Charles Barkley
- Capitolo Playground – This is the South Philly playground right above Cheesesteak Vegas, the Pat’s and Geno’s intersection at 9th and Federal.
- PHL Airport – Terminal A is where international flights land at Philadelphia International Airport (it’s unclear if that’s where this escalator actually is, since there’s a wayfinding sign pointing to A)
- Sixers practice facility — The Philadelphia 76ers opened their new training complex in Camden in 2016
- Wells Fargo Center — Home arena of the SIxers, Flyers, and the Philadelphia WIngs of the National Lacrosse League
- City Hall — Sandler and Hernangómez are seen together at the corner of 13th and Market, with City Hall in the background
- Federal Donuts — The actual shops don’t make the preview, but the brand does — Sandler is wearing it in the underlying scene that opens and closes the trailer
- Manor College — This Jenkintown school is home to the gym that forms the backdrop for that underlying scene, where Sandler gives his motivational speech
Watch the teaser
