The American Dream Basketball Film Lands in Spain on July 24, 2026
A friendship-first sports tale is landing in Spain: The American Dream (Le Rêve américain), directed by Anthony Marciano and inspired by the real-life journey of Jérémy Medjana and Bouna Ndiaye, has already debuted in francophone territories and now arrives in Spanish theaters on July 24, 2026.
Real story behind a different kind of basketball movie
Marciano’s film draws from the true history of Medjana and Ndiaye—portrayed by Raphaël Quenard and Jean-Pascal Zadi, respectively—two friends who walk away from their day jobs to become basketball agents. Their goal is to help underprivileged young talents grow into professional stars, with the “American dream” as the final destination: reaching the NBA.
After repeated setbacks and financial strain, the duo becomes widely respected within the sport. The film also traces their roster of notable players, including Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, Didier Mbenga, and more recently Victor Wembanyama.
Marciano on the themes, NBA research, and Wembanyama’s impact
Marciano, a French director who previously worked on projects such as Miskina, poor girl (2022), Play (2019), and Robin Hood: A True Story (2015), says the pair’s story attracted him less for basketball itself and more for what it represents—friendship, perseverance, loyalty, and a drive to lift others.
He also explained that while he is a basketball fan, he wasn’t an NBA specialist when preparing the script. To fill gaps—like how the draft and selection processes work—he reached out to basketball accounts online for guidance. Marciano additionally noted that the film’s emotional focus extends beyond agents as “contract and negotiation” figures, arguing the characters’ values are what set them apart.
On modern French basketball popularity, Marciano pointed to Wembanyama’s rise after he began gaining attention through the Olympics era and eventually reached the NBA Finals. He described Wembanyama as inspiring not only for talent but for his conduct and interests beyond basketball, including reading and playing chess.
Marciano’s approach to the movie’s feel also references the visual and thematic influence of major American comedies from the 1980s through the 2000s, while his sports-adjacent inspirations include films like Jerry Maguire and Intouchable.
- Director: Anthony Marciano
- Inspired by: Jérémy Medjana and Bouna Ndiaye
- Key cast: Raphaël Quenard (Medjana), Jean-Pascal Zadi (Ndiaye)
- European release timing: February 2026 in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Morocco
- Spain release: Friday, July 24, 2026
What to watch next
For audiences approaching the film expecting a conventional basketball story, Marciano’s message is clear: he frames The American Dream as an adventure about people doing the right thing—using sport as the backdrop for human connection. With Wembanyama continuing to draw international attention and NBA recognition growing in France, the film is positioned to ride that momentum while focusing on the friendship at the core of its real-world inspiration.
