Kobe Bryant‘s widow Vanessa Bryant has been protective over potential movies about her late husband, according to a report.
Vanessa is said to have been approached by a number of producers in the years since his tragic death.
However, the 42-year-old is claimed to want full control over any potential projects in order to protect their daughters, according to The Sun.
Vanessa, who married Bryant in 2001, is determined to shield her three children from the negative aspects of the Lakers legend’s life, including the former sexual assault allegations against him and his rift with his parents, the report adds.
‘Since Kobe’s tragic passing the family has been approached by several producers about putting together a film about Kobe’s astonishing life, ‘a source told The Sun this month, around the five-year anniversary of his death in a helicopter crash.
‘But Vanessa is extremely protective over his late husband’s legacy as she has every right to be.
‘She is adamant that she and the kids have the right to outline the plot and subjects.
‘To her it would be essential that she would have to be part of the creative process and a senior figure in production.
‘Vanessa was by his side every step of the way and has valuable insight into all his life highs and lows.
‘It would make total sense, from their perspective, that any proposed project would have their seal of approval and voice involved.’
Bryant, who passed away on January 26, 2020 in Calabasas, California along with his 13-year old daughter and seven others, faced accusations of sexual assault early in his career.
His off-court reputation took a major hit in 2003 when a 19-year-old woman claimed the NBA icon raped her in his hotel room in Eagle, Colorado.
Kobe, who was married at the time, admitted to having sex with the woman but maintained that it was consensual.
Bryant, who was then 24, was charged with one count of felony assault. However, the case never went to trial as they accuser opted not to testify in court. The charge was dropped in 2004.
‘Vanessa has made it clear that through her lawyers and advisors that a project, regardless of whether she is overseeing them, about her late husband, should consider the well being of her children,’ added the source, who described the allegations as a ‘troubling part’ of Bryant’s journey.
The insider also claimed that Bryant had a strained relationship with his dad Joe, who passed away at the age of 69 last July, as his father ‘didn’t see eye-to-eye’ with Vanessa.
‘Kobe wanted his parents to appreciate what an amazing family life he had built away from sport,’ they said.
‘So any production trying to address that would have to tread carefully and not cut open old healing wounds.’
The source described Vanessa as a terrific mother as they praised her for her efforts to shield her children from the media and ensure they could live as normal life as possible.
Her protective efforts are said to have delayed any production on a Bryant biopic, according to the report.
However, a new CNN documentary that puts the NBA great’s life under a microscope, including the assault allegations, was released earlier this month.
