“Finally, The Rock has come back to H-B-O.” The first season of Ballers has only just started, but it’s been such a big hit for HBO that the cable giant is already committing to a second season. Today it was announced that Dwayne Johnson, and the rest of the cast, will be back for another season of the comedy/drama about pro football and financial planning.
According to HBO the premiere episode of the comedy series Ballers has been seen by nearly 9 million viewers across HBO various platforms making it the most watched HBO half-hour series since 2009. This, in addition to the fact that the episode has received 5.6 million views on Dwayne Johnson’s own Facebook page. That number actually feels a little low when you consider the man's Facebook page has 50 million likes. Only a 10% conversion rate, the poor guy must be slipping. With numbers like that it’s no wonder HBO is looking to capitalize on the popularity and jump into Season 2 as soon as possible.
The series, from Stephen Levinson, the creator of Entourage and Boardwalk Empire follows Spencer Strasmore, a former football player, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who, after retiring from the game, attempts to start a new career as a financial manager for current players. The series is unique in that they have been able to figure out an intriguing way to use actual NFL team names and logos, without having to triple their production budget by paying for the rights. This adds an element of realism to the show which likely also helps draw in viewers.
The role is a perfect fit for Johnson who has both the previous football career and the second career reinvention aspects of the character in his own biography. Johnson played for the University of Miami in college and briefly played for the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampede before starting his professional wrestling career with the WWE, then the World Wrestling Federation, and became one of the most popular superstars the profession has ever seen. He now has successfully reinvented himself as an actor putting together an extensive, and overall impressive, film career, including the Fast & Furious franchise, and this summer’s disaster action film San Andreas, and so much more. With no less than four films slated for 2016 release, will Johnson actually have time to film a second season of Ballers?
No production schedule or premiere date for Season 2 was announced, and while cable series especially can jump all over the calendar, expect to see the return of Ballers in about year. Until then, enjoy the rest of Season 1. Seriously, the show just started. There’s plenty more to see.
