EXCLUSIVE: NBA Hall‑of‑Famer Dwight Howard stars in and executive produces the vertical series The Escape Room: Truth or Dis.
The project is the flagship title for the new short‑form streaming platform Tap In Shorts, founded by U.S. producer and director Artisha Mann‑Cooper (of The Bay) with backing from private investors.
In The Escape Room, a cohort of strangers finds themselves trapped in a perilous psychological contest where survival hinges on uncovering hidden truths and confronting their deepest fears. Howard is joined as executive producer by Mujaahid Abdul Baasit, Carlos Omar Hassan, and The Gym Agency.
The series also stars Carlos Roberto Jackson, Emily Rachel Gordon, Emily Richard, Sierra‑Lynn Hindman, and Wenona Wenb.
Howard commented: “The Escape Room is the kind of project that immediately grabbed my attention because it’s about more than just suspense; it’s about people being pushed to their limits. I’m excited to be part of a platform that’s giving creators and audiences something fresh and different.”
Howard, a former NBA champion and eight‑time All‑Star who earned the nickname “Superman,” has previously appeared as himself in film and television, but this marks one of his first acting roles as a distinct character.
Mann‑Cooper says the platform will allow audiences to help greenlight future seasons of their favorite series and shorts, while giving creators a share of the profits from licensed content.
Other original vertical series launching on Tap In Shorts include Play Me Slowly (directed by Steve O’Reilly of the rock band Tammany Hall, featuring his original music), Falling For His Dangerous Rhythm, and The Vampire Legacy.
The platform will also host the coming‑of‑age drama Functioning, executive‑produced by and starring Ava Kolker of Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World alongside Katherine Kenny and Dana Sparks; One More Rain Man, featuring Bella Zoe Martinez, Matt Jones, and Joe Mantegna; and Action Kings of Triad: Uprising, starring Kevin Le.
“Tap In Shorts was created to meet audiences where they are on their phones without sacrificing cinematic storytelling,” said Mann‑Cooper. “We’re building a platform that keeps audience demand at the center, gives filmmakers a home beyond the festival circuit, and creates a sustainable ecosystem where creators can grow, monetize their work, and tell the stories audiences want to see.”