Former Panthers RB Ameer Abdullah Lands Leading Role in Upcoming Movie

Former Carolina Panthers running back Ameer Abdullah has landed a lead role alongside Oscar winner Cuba Gooding, Jr. in Break the Cycle, a high-stakes urban drama written by first-time screenwriter and former NBA player Jarnell Stokes.

Abdullah spent three and a half seasons in Detroit after the Lions selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft. After the Lions waived Abdullah in 2018, he spent parts of four years with the Vikings and then one partial season with the Panthers. He has been with the Las Vegas Raiders each of the past two seasons.

Directed by Josh Weber (Never Heard), Break the Cycle delves deep into the lives of two brothers whose childhood is marred by a horribly tragic incident. Raised by their loving but stern grandmother, the brothers take radically different paths as they come of age in the gritty streets of Memphis.

Jay, a gifted basketball player with dreams of making it to the NBA, is a beacon of hope for his grandmother and a potential ticket out of their harsh reality. However, the allure of his charismatic yet troubled brother, Eddie, who’s deeply entrenched in the world of street crime, casts a shadow over Jay’s future.

Abdullah is set to play the part of K-Money, a street king who runs the neighborhood and wants to recruit Eddie deeper into the hood life.

Others who have joined the film’s cast include Vivica A. Fox (Kill Bill Vol. 1), former NFL tight end Vernon Davis (The Ritual Killer), former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (The A-Team), Loretta Devine (Waiting to Exhale), and Kym Whitley (Next Friday).

Production will kick off this March in Memphis, Tennessee.

“This film is a heart-pounding journey through the world of streetball that explores themes of family, ambition, and the moral complexities of urban life. It tells the story of navigating a treacherous path, an unfortunate reality for far too many young boys in our urban communities,” said Stokes. “I’m so excited to have Ameer as part of this tremendously talented group of actors who will help bring this project to life.”

Abdullah has made no secret about his foray into film and television as a producer, screenwriter, and actor. Since 2019, he has been the executive producer for three films — Hell on the Border (2019), Hide and Bleed (2012), and Monstrous (2022) — with a fourth in development. Abdullah also owns a production company, Creative House, through which he wrote, directed and co-starred in an 11-minute short film, Joshua Tree.

Abdullah said he's in the midst of writing other scripts and screenplays as well.