By After retiring from basketball due to injuries (and lackluster play over recent seasons), ex-NBA star, future Hall of Famer, acclaimed actor, and fire-spitting MC Shaquille O’Neal has a lot of time on his hands. With a lockout threatening to cancel basketball for the 2011-2012 season and his recently announced job as an NBA analyst for Turner Sports now in question, O’Neal has found other ways to be productive in his free time.
BET and reputable celebrity website TMZ report that the Kazaam actor is set to graduate from the Filmmaking Conservatory at the New York Film Academy’s extension at Universal Studios Hollywood. Addressing his interest in directing, O’Neal reportedly responded, “Why act when you can direct, right?” Indeed, with the success surrounding Kazaam, it’s no surprise that O’Neal would have to turn to directing in order to get a sequel off the ground.
This is all speculation, but come on… why else would the ex-Big Shamrock want to direct if not to have creative control over a Kazaam sequel?
[via BET, via TMZ]