Shohei Ohtani/Ippei Mizuhara Scandal Closer to Becoming Scripted Series
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The gambling scandal that threatened to disrupt Shohei Ohtani's historic 2024 season before it could even begin is close to becoming a scripted series.
Lionsgate TV chairman Kevin Beggs spoke about the previously announced series focused on the scandal surrounding former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in a Q&A with The Ankler's Lesley Goldberg that published Wednesday.
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"A year ago, Lionsgate TV announced it was developing a TV show about the Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal involving his former interpreter," Goldberg said. "He's easily among the biggest sports stars in the world. Has it sold yet?"
Ippei Mizuhara departs federal court after his arraignment in Los Angeles, California, on May 14, 2024.
Ippei Mizuhara departs federal court after his arraignment in Los Angeles, California, on May 14, 2024.
Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images
"It has sold," Beggs said. "Can't say to whom because we're still negotiating the deal. But the momentum around it just grew and the auspices are fantastic. It's bananas how big he is.
"When we can announce, we will, and we can't wait to get started on writing it and really diving in — we had a ton of research done; all of it is wild," Beggs continued. "Most people don't even know the full story. And there's probably different opinions about the truth, which is never a bad thing for this kind of show. But we are super excited about it, glad that we landed a partner."
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Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. The Dodgers at the time hired Mizuhara, Ohtani's interpreter for the previous six seasons with the Angels.
Unbeknownst to Ohtani, Mizuhara had gained access to one of Ohtani's bank accounts years earlier. He used that access to rack up and pay down millions in gambling debts. The Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March 2024, and he confessed about his theft to Ohtani after their first game of the regular season.
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In February, a judge sentenced Mizuhara to 57 months in prison, and to pay $16,975,010 in restitution to Ohtani and $1,149,400 in restitution to the IRS.
"It was very obvious (Mizuhara) was stealing money and not asking Ohtani for permission," bookmaker Mathew Bowyer told the New York Post in February.
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Undeterred, Ohtani captured the National League MVP award in his first season in Los Angeles. He became the first player in MLB history to rack up 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season.
In October 2024, the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win the World Series.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
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