Apple TV+ announced back in February that they had ordered a new docu-series focusing on Earvin Johnson a.k.a. Magic Johnson. Recently, they just dropped the first look at this new show. You can view the new trailer below.
They Call Me Magic offers a rare glimpse into the real-life story of Johnson, who left his mark on history through his work both on and off the court. It looks at the impact he had on the game from his days at Michigan State to his championship run in the NBA. The new series will look how he continues to impact the world today. The four-part show will look at Johnson’s life-changing moment when he was diagnosed with HIV and how his life would never be the same, as well as Johnson’s journey from Los Angeles Lakers legend to changing the conversation around to becoming a community activist.
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Earvin “Magic” Johnson is one of the best point guards of all time, and he played 13 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers. His forced retirement came early, in 1991, due to contracting HIV, but he continued playing on and off until he officially retired in 1996. Since then, the player has become a fierce advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and has become one of the most influential people in the world as he speaks to communities about HIV and other issues that affect so many. In 1991 The Magic Johnson Foundation was founded by Johnson. This foundation develops programs and supports community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities.
They Call Me Magic Debuted at SXSW
Apple released the trailer ahead of the project’s Saturday debut at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas. The series directed by Rick Famuyiwa (The Mandalorian) and features new interviews with Johnson, his family, and a massive A list lineup that includes Larry Bird, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neil, President Obama, Fred Stabley Jr., Dwayne Wade, Jerry West, and Michael Wilbon. The project is the latest Apple TV+ documentary, joining the Emmy-winning Boys State, plus The Velvet Underground, Beastie Boys Story and Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry.
The trailer reveals that from the start Johnson himself was not a fan of the idea of being nicknamed “Magic.” He thought that no one would ever take him seriously with a name like that. Little did he know, “magic” was exactly what he did on the court, and his unmatched talent took him to the status of one of the best basketball players the world has ever seen. Also shown in the trailer is Johnson’s focus and dedication in not letting an HIV diagnosis define his life and legacy. The “wake-up” call that the virus gave him was that he needed to be a role model for the Black community, and retiring the number 32 jersey was never the end of his career. Johnson says that making a difference for his community far outshines his achievements in championships in the game.
