Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and HBO just got sued for intercepting the idea for their show “Ballers.”
According to a lawsuit filed in federal court, Everette Silas and Sherri Littleton say they had the idea for a project called “Off Season” back in 2007.
They claim they were close to a deal in 2009 to work with Wahlberg, Johnson and their manager to develop the project … but it fell apart when Silas and Littleton insisted their names remain under “Created By” in the credits.
Silas and Littleton claim “Off Season” and “Ballers” share several similarities, including:
— Both are about football players and their lives off-field
— Both set in Miami
— Both center around African-American athletes
That last one doesn’t seem so unique — still, the “Off Season” folks say even the title “Ballers” is ripped from one their episode titles.
Silas and Littleton are seeking unspecified damages.
A rep for HBO tells TMZ, “We are confident the case has no merit.”
