Metta World Peace to play an ‘overtly sexual vampire elder’ in TV pilot
Back in June, we brought you the news that Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace is set to portray a detective in the Lifetime movie of Nancy Grace's novel "The Eleventh Victim." While the project sounds like a product of some TMZ-sponsored version of Mad Libs, it is in fact real. The only question was whether the acting gig was a one-time thing or the start of a new career for one of the NBA's most bizarre personalities.
Not surprisingly, World Peace is giving acting a real shot. In fact, he's booked another role in a new pilot. It sounds perfectly normal, too. Just check out this press release for "Real Vampire Housewives" (story via The Classical, release image via Deadspin):
Los Angeles Lakers' Metta World Peace has joined the cast of the original scripted spoof pilot "Real Vampire Housewives" (RVH) where he will portray a gregarious and overtly sexual vampire elder. RVH follows a group of mischievous women who are married to vampires. The housewives find plenty of wicked trouble to occupy them during the day while their husbands rest. For the pilot, a recently engaged couple must seek permission from the clan's elder to wed. The elder, Gossamer will be portrayed by Metta. RVH shoots in September on location in Encino, California. [...]
Real Vampire Housewives is written by Andre Jetmir who will also direct. Jetmir jumped at the opportunity to work with Metta, "Robert mentioned Metta World Peace and it was yes in an instant. Metta is perfect as a vampire; he is physically intimidating in an Alpha-male way, very charming, a little mischievous and he has a raw sexuality I think most actors try to find when they play a vampire."
Sure, yes, I suppose Metta World Peace is as good a choice for a very sexual vampire elder named Gossamer, to the extent that anyone would be a good fit for such a bizarre role. That's to say nothing of the idea for the series itself, which appears to be the product of some kind of cultural relevance mashup generator. Presumably "Batman Glee Club" is next in line for production.
September is typically a dead month for the NBA before training camps begin, so MWP probably won't be missing much in the way of preparation as long as he stays to a workout schedule when he's not filming. On the other hand, Lakers fans have reasons to be concerned about that happening: World Peace wasn't in shape at the beginning of last season after the long lockout, and the Lakers will also depend on him a lot this season as a perimeter defender.
The peculiar thing about this news is that we might never see "Real Vampire Housewives" at all. Pilots need to be picked up by networks to get on TV — for instance, I've been waiting to see this gem for years. Hopefully "RVH" sees the light of day, though, because clearly Gossamer is a character who will inspire a generation.