The starting gun has officially fired on the first trailer for Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story, a new satirical comedy from Paramount+ and GameTV. Chronicling one of the most infamous moments in Olympic history, the six-part miniseries offers a “definitely-not-biased” look at the rise and rapid fall of Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson.
The series stars Shamier Anderson (John Wick: Chapter 4) as Johnson, who famously took home the gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics before being disqualified just 72 hours later for steroid use. Starring alongside him is social media sensation Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor, who steps onto the track as Johnson’s legendary American rival, Carl Lewis.
Billed as “equal parts absurdist comedy and cultural critique,” the show is created by Anthony Q. Farrell (The Office) and produced by New Metric Media, the team behind the hit series Letterkenny. While the story of the “Dirtiest Race in History” has been told before, this version leans into the ridiculous, with the unvarnished perspective of Johnson himself, who participated in the project’s production.
The ensemble cast is packed with comedic heavyweights, including Mark McKinney (Superstore) in the role of lawyer Walter F. Essanpee. Joining him is Karen Robinson (Schitt’s Creek), who portrays Ben’s mother, Gloria. The roster of talent continues with Ennis Esmer (Blindspot) playing Dr. Jamie Astaphan and Kristian Bruun (Orphan Black) appearing as coach Charlie Francis.
The race begins on March 26, 2026, with the first two episodes debuting on GameTV in Canada. Paramount+ subscribers in Canada can catch the episodes a day later, on March 27, with two new episodes rolling out weekly thereafter.
Check out the trailer below.
