The Basketball Star (Johnsonverse)

Katie is a 2018 American sports action drama film released by Johnson Studios, produced by Tim Johnson and directed by Timothy Hill. It stars Chloe Johnson, Gary Nelson, Ray Liotta, Mary Steenburgen, Phil Hartman, Jenny Smith, Mike Myers, Vanessa Parsons, and Alicia Helbert, and follows aspiring basketball player Katie Foss, who joins the DeLeon Lady Eagles.

The film premiered in Hollywood on December 9, 2018, and had its worldwide debut eight days later. Critics praised it for its acting, especially from Johnson and Nelson, its action sequences, and the music score.

Plot
The prologue takes place in 2010. Katelyn "Katie" Foss (Chloe Johnson; young version played by Abby Rider Fortson) is an aspiring basketball player in the town of Staunton, Utah, living with her parents, former basketball player Sonny (Ray Liotta) and overprotective country star Franny (Mary Steenburgen), and her cousin Harry (Gary Nelson). Her best friends are Wendy James (Jenny Smith; young version played by Adrianne Nelson) and Eddie Stone (Gary Nelson; young version played by his son Hayden Nelson). Katie, Wendy, and Eddie play basketball with their friends in an abandoned warehouse next to the Dairy Queen.

One day, as adults, while playing one-on-one, Katie and Wendy are noticed by the coach of the DeLeon Lady Eagles, Pearl Olsen (Vanessa Parsons). Olsen has them do some training, and a few weeks later, Katie and Wendy get a letter from DeLeon University notifying them that they were accepted into the team, Katie's number being #30 and Wendy's number being #14.

Their first game takes place a few weeks later. Katie and Wendy put on their uniforms in the locker room, and they compete against the Eagles' rivals, the Naston Lady Hawks. Katie and Wendy win the game for the Eagles. They win several more games until Katie injures her leg, and is forced to miss the rest of the season. During this time, she meets retired basketball player Tommy Stone (Phil Hartman), who gives Katie encouragement, as well as his son Eddie, who was a friend of Katie's during childhood.

A few weeks later, Katie's leg starts to heal, and she meets her rival, Hawks player Rose Dakan (Alicia Helbert), who mocks her and explains that the Eagles are suffering without her, and that even Wendy's been struggling without Katie's help. Katie is then motivated to make a comeback, and begins training.

Two days before her scheduled comeback, Katie gets a call from her aunt, former volleyball player Karissa Alvarez (Ashley Wallace), who wishes her luck. Katie and Wendy see each other again for the first time since Katie's injury. During the game, Katie wins the game for the Eagles.

Development
Development for Katie began in 2014 when the film was greenlit. Longtime Johnson Studios director Timothy Hill was signed on to direct.

Shooting
Principal photography took place from March 24 to August 30, 2017, at the Johnson Studios lot in San Jose, CA, with reshoots taking place from January 20 to February 1, 2018. The prologue scenes were shot in Stamford, CT; the Dairy Queen shots filmed at the Dairy Queen location there, and the warehouse shots filmed at Johnson Studios' Stamford lot.

Music
The music score was composed by Hans Zimmer. Hill requested that the score be dramatic.