Michael Jordan Documentary ‘The Last Dance’ to Premiere on ESPN and Netflix on April 19
ESPN announced today that “The Last Dance” — the highly anticipated documentary following Michael Jordan and the ’90s Bulls as they pursue their sixth championship — will launch on the channel on April 19 in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally. The 10-part series will run for a period of five weeks, ending on May 17.
“As society navigates this time without live sports, viewers are still looking to the sports world to escape and enjoy a collective experience. We’ve heard the calls from fans asking us to move up the release date for this series, and we’re happy to announce that we’ve been able to accelerate the production schedule to do just that,” ESPN said in a statement. “This project celebrates one of the greatest players and dynasties ever, and we hope it can serve as a unifying entertainment experience to fill the role that sports often play in our lives, telling a story that will captivate everyone, not just sports fans.”
“The Last Dance” follows the team as they navigate their way through the tumultuous 1997-98 season and takes viewers back to Jordan’s childhood, chronicling how the decorated basketball player became who he is. Viewers will also get an in-depth look at his journey from the 1984 draft, the Bulls’ standing before Jordan arrived as well as the struggles that led to the team’s first championship.
As the series hones in on the journey to the ‘98 championship, with never-before-seen footage from the NBA Entertainment film crew, we also get extensive profiles of Jordan’s key teammates including Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Steve Kerr, as well as head coach Phil Jackson. The series will also feature present-day interviews with rivals and admirers from the basketball world and beyond.
“Michael Jordan and the ‘90s Bulls weren’t just sports superstars, they were a global phenomenon,” said director Jason Hehir. “Making ‘The Last Dance’ was an incredible opportunity to explore the extraordinary impact of one man and one team. For nearly three years, we searched far and wide to present the definitive story of an era-defining dynasty and to present these sports heroes as humans. I hope viewers enjoy watching our series as much as we enjoyed the opportunity to make it.”