Rise tells the story of the Antetokounmpo family. In this interview they discuss how it feels to have to film that shares their lives with the world.
It has to be surreal to have a movie made about your life. Watching these moments — the good and the bad — play out on screen have to stir up a wide range of emotions. During the press day for Rise, that is exactly how the Antetokounmpo family described watching the movie that is based off of their lives.
How The Antetokounmpo Family Reacted To Rise
Disney approached the Antetokounmpo family in 2018 asking to share their story with the world. Giannis explains that they came together as a family to decide if it was something they wanted to do or not. Ultimately they wanted to tell their story because they think it is inspiring, and they wanted to give props to the real heroes.
“Our story is such an amazing story. Where we started from and where we are at right now. Everybody talks about us. About me, Thanasis, Kostas, Alex, and Francis, but they always leave out our parents. My dad and my mom. We knew that one day we’re gonna tell them who the real heroes of this journey is.” – Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kostas was excited that Disney decided to make a movie about their story, but he knew it was going to be emotional. “You know your history. You know your journey. But once you see it on the screen, now it’s a whole difference case.” He knew the journey his brothers took, but when he sat down to watch the movie, and it started with his mom and dad in Turkey, and seeing the fear in their eyes, it took him back.
It was special for him to see them before he and his brothers were here. His parents were around his age then, and they overcome a lot of difficulty in that scene. “Then seeing them walking together in the sunset, for me, that was amazing. Obviously our dad’s not here no more. But just seeing that there was, like, there was a story, there was a journey, before we were even here.”
Alex says that seeing the whole thing being acted out was surreal. “Obviously we knew a lot of the story behind it. Like, I knew what my brother Kostas went through, what Giannis, Thanasis went through. And a lot of the times I was there. But seeing the stuff that my mom and my dad went through, just seeing it acted out, rather than just hearing the stories about it, I think was very touching for us. And it was a new thing, so I think that’s what probably touched me the most.”
Giannis adds in that the scene where he and his brothers were running from the police is something he vividly remembers having to do more than once. It shows just how much this family would do for each other.
Thanasis says that his brothers covered everything, but for him he was thankful to be able to share their story. He says parents often tell their kids that they don’t know what they went through, and as much as you can explain it, now they get to show it on the screen. “It’s something unbelievable. And I know it’s my story and everything, but I would wish everybody has this feeling after the movie. Just feel blessed for what you have, feel motivated for what you could become and what you can achieve in life. It’s powerful, you know?”
Of course Veronica, their mother, needed to share how she feels about Rise. “When I watched the movie, I was so excited. At the same time, I was emotional. The part of my husband is no more. Then I cried.”
Why Tell The Antetokounmpo Family Story?
The writer of Rise, Arash Amel, says that the reason they wanted to tell the story is because it is a universal one. It is about family and faith. “At the core it’s a story about a very modern world where immigration and cultural identity actually is at the very root of it. And this ability for this wonderfully generous family to allow us into their lives and to be able to tell that story was really the genesis of it.”
This is an incredibly modern tale of triumph over adversity, Amel continues. So he was thrilled to be a part of telling it.
Akin Omotoso, the director, was also happy to be a part of this story. He recalls when Giannis was drafted in the NBA, and as a big basketball fan himself, he was immediately sucked into the story. “If ever I was to make a film about basketball and life, it’ll be this gentleman’s story.” he thought to himself, and now here we are.
Dayo Okeniyi, who plays the father Charles Antetokounmpo, says that when he first heard about the movie during a Disney investor presentation he was interested in it. Not to star in it, but rather that he knew it was something he would want to watch. He texted his manager to see what was going on with the film, and was approached to audition.
Okeniyi thought to himself he would wear stilts if he had to, to play one of the brothers, but then was quickly told they were not even remotely considering him for that role, but rather the dad. He says he is fine being in that part of his career now, and was honored to be involved with Rise.
Yetide Badaki, who plays the mother Veronica Antetokounmpo, explains that what drew her to Rise was the idea of the ability to dream. “To shine a light in really dark times.” She read for this movie right in the middle of the pandemic. “It had been a while since I had been on a set. I wasn’t sure if I would get on a set again. And the thing about that time was that everything had to be incredibly intentional.”
Badaki recalls reading the script and just sobbing. It really touched her. “We get to make this piece of filmmaking that is an inspiring hour for family by an inspired family. And that drew me from the very beginning.”
Uche Agada (Giannis Antetokounmpo) and Ral Agada (Thanasis Antetokounmpo) are brothers that get to play brothers in Rise, but the story of how this came about is actually quite crazy. Uche explains, “I was just layin’ in bed one day and I was goin’ on Instagram. And I see a screenshot of a tweet that Giannis put out saying that Disney’s making a movie about his life and his family’s life and they’re looking for someone to play him and his brothers.”
He clicked on the link and sent in a video, not expecting anything to come of it. But there was a callback from Disney which eventually led to them asking if he had any siblings, and he mentioned his older brother Ral. The rest is history.
Rise is available to stream on Disney+ starting June 24th. It’s an inspiring story about family that you do not want to miss.
About Rise
Audiences have never seen a story like that of the Antetokounmpos. After emigrating from Nigeria to Greece, Charles and Vera Antetokounmpo (Dayo Okeniyi and Yetide Badaki, respectively) struggled to survive and provide for their five children, while living under the daily threat of deportation.
With their oldest son still in Nigeria with relatives, the couple were desperate to obtain Greek citizenship but found themselves undermined by a system that blocked them at every turn. When they weren’t selling items to tourists on the streets of Athens with the rest of the family, the brothers – Giannis (Uche Agada) and Thanasis (Ral Agada) – would play basketball with a local youth team.
Latecomers to the sport, they discovered their great abilities on the basketball court and worked hard to become world class athletes, along with brother, Kostas (Jaden Osimuwa). With the help of an agent, Giannis entered the NBA Draft in 2013 in a long shot prospect that would change not only his life but the life of his entire family.
And last season, Giannis and Thanasis helped bring the Milwaukee Bucks their first championship ring in 50 years, while Kostas played for the previous season champs, the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Rise” stars Dayo Okeniyi, Yetide Badaki, Manish Dayal, Taylor Nichols, introducing Ral Agada and introducing Uche Agada. The film was directed by Akin Omotoso (“Vaya”), written by Arash Amel (“A Private War”) and produced by Bernie Goldmann (“300”). Giannis Antetokounmpo and Douglas S. Jones served as the executive producers.
Rise comes exclusively to Disney+ on June 24th.
