Players creators on how they brought their ‘esports love story’ to life

polygon.com:

No relationship on a League of Legends team is more important or precarious than that between an ADC and their support. It’s a problem Players, the new Paramount Plus show from American Vandalcreators Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, knows all too well.

Players follows Fugitive Gaming, a fictional North American League of Legends team aspiring to its first-ever championship. The story takes place primarily through the complicated dynamic between Creamcheese, the veteran support and co-founder of the team, and Organizm, a hot-shot teenager hailed as one of the top prospects ever. When Fugitive’s new NBA ownership demands Organizm gets a spot in the starting lineup from day one, Creamcheese is asked to put his ego aside and work with the burgeoning, quiet superstar. But when communication issues arise and personalities clash, can Fugitive actually play like a team again?

The result is a vibrant mockuseries that effectively communicates the drama and comedy inherent to esports to audiences of all familiarity levels with League of Legends, without ever dumbing down the language for the die-hards watching. The show’s cast is a mix of actors and real-life esports personalities, lending authenticity to the fictional series. As a former esports reporter who covered the LCS, I found it remarkable how accurately the show conveys that particular microscene, both in present-day sequences and in flashbacks.

Polygon sat down with Perrault and Yacenda for a delightful conversation about how they kept the subject matter fresh for experienced League players and new viewers alike, the casting process, and how sports shows made pitching Players a lot easier.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

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