Source: Oklahoman Durant Close To Deal For Starring Role In Warner Bros. Film Kevin Durant is ready for his close up. The Oklahoma City Thunder star is on the verge of finalizing a deal to star in a major Warner Bros. film, The Oklahoman has learned. The film, which has a basketball subplot, has not yet been named, but it's scheduled to go into production in mid-September, according to sources. Filming location for the feature-length picture has been narrowed to Oklahoma City and Baton Rouge, La. Neither Durant nor his representatives could be reached for comment. The film, however, will mark the biggest off-the-court venture Durant has undertaken in his four-year pro basketball career. It also will solidify Durant's growing status as a superstar. The film's impending announcement will only keep Durant in a spotlight he's thoroughly sequestered throughout an NBA offseason that has been clouded by a lockout. With the league's labor dispute threatening to cancel some or all of the season, Durant, the reigning two-time scoring champion, has taken his talents to the country's best playgrounds and pro-am circuits. Durant has wowed crowds in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. with his scoring prowess and sharpshooting ability, adding Internet sensation to his long list of accomplishments. A work stoppage actually would assist Durant in shooting the film. Training camps are scheduled to open at the end of September, but there is little reason to believe owners and players will ratify a collective bargaining agreement in time to start the season on time. The Thunder is scheduled to begin the preseason portion of its schedule Oct. 12 at Utah. Oklahoma City's regular season opener is slated for Nov. 1 on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant also has stated his interest in playing overseas in the event the NBA season fails to begin on time. His representatives reportedly are in contract negotiations with the same Turkish club that signed New Jersey point guard Deron Williams. Durant, according to reports, wants to make a decision on where he'll play by Oct. 1. Depending on both when Durant's scenes are worked into the production and when the season starts, it's possible the bulk of Durant's role to be completed before the season.
