Brittney Griner’s ‘Harrowing’ Russia Ordeal to Be Focus of Documentary, Scripted Series

Daniel Kreps
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United States v Duke - Credit: Lance King/Getty Images
United States v Duke - Credit: Lance King/Getty Images

Brittney Griner’s imprisonment in Russia and subsequent release will be the focus of both an upcoming documentary and scripted television series.

The WNBA star has partnered with Disney’s ESPN and ABC Signature on the projects, with the former producing the documentary and the latter planning the scripted series.

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Griner — who, like other WNBA athletes, played basketball in Russia during the offseason — was arrested in February 2022 after two cannabis vape cartridges were discovered in her carry-on luggage. Though Griner claimed she packed the cartridges by mistake, she pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges and was eventually sentenced to nine years in prison. However, Griner’s release was secured with a one-for-one prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December 2022, 10 months after her arrest.

Following the ordeal, Griner returned to the WNBA and the US national basketball team, but was still the target of a “calculated confrontation” by a “social media figure and provocateur” in a Dallas airport this past June.

“The last two years have been the most harrowing, transformative and illuminating period of my life, and I am grateful to be in a place now to share my story with the world,” Griner said of the projects in a statement. “I’m proud to partner with ESPN and Disney to share this very personal story because of its incredible potential to inspire hope around the world and their proven ability to do just that.”

Prior to the documentary and TV series, Griner will sit down for an exclusive ABC News interview with Robin Roberts, the Hollywood Reporter writes. Griner also previously revealed plans to pen a memoir about her ordeal.

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