Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story

Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story
Screenplay byAnthony Q. Farrell
Directed byR.T. Thorne
Cory Bowles
Starring
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
Production
Executive producers
  • Mark Montefiore
  • Anthony Q. Farrell
  • R.T. Thorne
  • Stephan James
ProducerLana Maclin
Production companies
  • New Metric Media
  • Bay Mills Studios
Original release
NetworkGameTV
Paramount+

Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story is an upcoming Canadian comedy television series centred around Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson and his positive drug test at the 1988 Olympic Games. The cast is led by Shamier Anderson as Ben Johnson with King Bach as his American rival Carl Lewis. The series will premiere simultaneously on GameTV and Paramount+ in 2026.

Premise

Three days after winning the gold medal in the 100 metres final at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson gave a positive drug test for the banned steroid stanozolol and was disqualified. This led to the Dubin Inquiry (1989), which uncovered widespread doping among Canadian athletes.[1]

Cast

Production

The series was commissioned in June 2025 by Canadian network channel GameTV and streaming channel Paramount+.[2] It is produced by New Metric Media with Bay Mills Studios. New Metric founder Mark Montefiore stated that the project was originally intended to be a drama series but that the "story kept getting more insane and more ridiculous" and Anthony Q. Farrell was brought in as a writer for a comedic slant. The show is produced with participation from Ben Johnson and is inspired by research conducted by author and journalist, Mary Ormsby who wrote the book World’s Fastest Man: The Incredible Life of Ben Johnson (2024).[3][4] Farrell is showrunner and executive producer, with R.T. Thorne and Cory Bowles as series directors. Montefiore is also an executive producer alongside Thorne and Stephan James for Bay Mills Studio. Lana Maclin is series producer.[5]

The cast is led by Shamier Anderson as Ben Johnson with King Bach as his American rival Carl Lewis, with the cast also including Mark McKinney, Karen Robinson, Ennis Esmer, Kristian Bruun, Malaika Hennie Hamadi, Ryan Belleville, Darryl Hinds, Lisa Horner, Emma Hunter, Suresh John, Jonathan Langdon, Gita Miller, Andrew Phung and Dewshane Williams.[4][6] The series also features cameo appearances by Chelsea Green and Amber Balcaen.[5]

Filming took place in Toronto in June and July 2025.[7] Filming locations included Dark Slope Studios.[5][4]

Broadcast

The series will premiere simultaneously on GameTV and Paramount+ in 2026.[2]

References

  1. ^ Francis, Anne (19 June 2025). "Ben Johnson doping scandal series coming to Paramount+ Canada". Running Magazine. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b Batey, Neil (18 June 2025). "GameTV and Paramount+ line up for sports miniseries Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story". c21media. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  3. ^ Clarke, Stewart (22 October 2025). "'Letterkenny' Producer On 'Hate The Player: The Ben Johnson Story': "What If We Look At This As 'I Tonya' Meets 'Eastbound & Down'"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Goldbart, Max (18 June 2025). "'John Wick: Chapter 4' Star Shamier Anderson To Play Controversial Canadian Sprinter Ben Johnson In 'Hate The Player' For Paramount+ & GameTV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "GAMETV/Paramount+ in Canada miniseries Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story taps Andrew "King Bach" Bachelor, Mark McKinney (Superstore), Karen Robinson (Schitt's Creek) and Ennis Esmer (Blindspot) to join cast". prnewswire. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  6. ^ Vlessing, Etan (9 July 2025). "Andrew "King Bach" Bachelor Joins Shamier Anderson in 'Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story' Miniseries". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  7. ^ Lavery, Irelyne (24 June 2025). "Here's what's filming in Toronto this summer". Toronto.com. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
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