TV Series to Retell the Ohtani-Mizuhara Betting Scandal

The Hollywood Reporter announced that a new show will cover the recent Shohei Ohtani-Ippei Mizuhara betting scandal. The TV series announcement comes soon after the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s interpreter was accused of embezzling millions of dollars.

Mizuhara served as a confidant to Ohtani for years and was very close to the baseball star. However, recent reveals showed that he has been taking money behind the athlete’s back and channeling it toward an illegal bookmaker in California. In total, Mizuhara is believed to have placed over 19,000 wagers.

The interpreter was eventually fired as the situation shook the baseball ecosystem. Ohtani was let down by his former friend’s actions but was luckily able to overcome the bitter disappointment without allowing it to affect his professional performance negatively.

In the meantime, Mizuhara is set to plead guilty to a count of bank fraud and a count of submitting a false tax return. He faces up to 33 years in jail and will likely be asked to pay back the almost $17 million he took from Ohtani.

A Tale of Trust, Betrayal and the Trappings of Wealth and Fame

According to reports, the new series will be produced by Scott Delman and Albert Chen. Lionsgate Television is developing a script, that will cover Ohtani’s rise to prominence and the ensuing gambling scandal involving Mizuhara.

Delman has previously worked on projects such as The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time, Station Eleven and Death of a Salesman. Chen, on the other hand, is a baseball pundit and author of Billion Dollar Fantasy, a book on the power dynamics in online wagering.  

Delman commented on the matter, saying that Lionsgate Television is the perfect partner for this story. He also added that Chen’s expertise in sports journalism will be invaluable to recreating a believable and engaging retelling of the gambling scandal.

Chen also commented on the matter, describing the Mizuhara situation as “Major League Baseball’s biggest sports gambling scandal since Pete Rose.” He added that the series will be a story about trust, betrayal and the risks that come with money and popularity.

In other news, a recent ESPN report revealed that The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member Ryan Boyajian, might have been involved in the scandal, prompting an investigation into the matter.