Dwayne Johnson Gets Back in the Game With Season 2 of Ballers
Cover photograph of Dwayne Johnson by Nino Munoz/CPi
Ball so hard. Those three words—uttered by former NFL superstar turned financial planner Spencer Strasmore (Dwayne Johnson) in the Season 2 premiere of Ballers—not only serve as the business motto for Spencer and his all-star clientele, but they also represent the attitude Johnson himself has adopted for the sophomore year of his hit HBO comedy. “Now that we’ve established the character, we want to push harder and dig deeper in terms of what challenges Spencer faces,” says Johnson (aka The Rock), who also serves as an executive producer. “Spencer will continue to scratch and claw his way up the ladder, he’s even hungrier and more driven.”
Ballers’ first season was a breakout success for HBO, finishing its initial run as the most-watched half-hour program for the premium cable network in six years. The series was also the first major scripted television project for Johnson, who leaned on his own background as a former professional athlete to bring authenticity to his portrayal of the behind-the-scenes, big-money negotiations associated with NFL players and their representatives. “I think there were a lot of people out there who really didn’t know what the show was,” Johnson says. “We’re about showcasing how these guys get up every day—even if they f— up—and just keep trying to be better in the face of challenge.”
Also in this issue:
• Mr. Robot: Everything you need to know about Season 2 of USA’s critically adored tech drama.
• The Real Housewives of New Jersey: After a year in prison, Teresa Giudice returns to rule the roost.
• Difficult People: Creator/star Julie Klausner reveals some pop-culture hallmarks that inspired Season 2 of the Hulu comedy.
• Suits: The cast of USA’s hit legal drama previews secrets to be revealed in Season 6.
• American Ninja Warrior: An inside look at the challenges facing this year’s competitors.
• Republican National Convention: Guest columnist Chris Wallace of Fox News Channel previews the political pow-wow.
• Plus: Bones, Animal Kingdom, Power, 12 Monkeys, Looking: The Movie, Disney’s newest princess, Elena of Avalor, The Young and the Restless and the best of movies, streaming, sports and more.
