Say Hallelujer, Madea fans! Tyler Perry is bringing back his most beloved character for an all-new adventure on Netflix.
Perry will write, direct and star in the film, donning Madea’s dress, wig and devil-may-care attitude one more time. Perry retired Mabel “Madea” Simmons in 2020 with the sold-out “Madea’s Farewell Tour” (which was also filmed for BET plus), while the character’s final film appearance came in 2019’s “A Madea Family Funeral,” where Perry ostensibly closed the casket on the character.
Perry has been quietly developing the project since last fall.
“I was done with Madea, completely done with it,” Perry told Variety, when he was honored as 2020’s Showman of the Year. “But as I’ve been looking at the state of the world — and I finished a tour in January, just before the pandemic started to break in the country — and the amount of joy and laughter that it brought to so many people, that’s what I think is missing. We need that laughter and that joy.”
The new film will be shot entirely at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Ga., with plans for a 2022 debut on Netflix. Overseeing the project are Tyler Perry Studios president of production and development Michelle Sneed, who will executive produce alongside Perry, with TPS execs Will Areu and Mark Swinton producing the film.
Perry announced the news on social media, slipping easily into Madea’s voice, if not her costume, saying: “This is Madea saying I’m coming back, and I’m on Netflix and I can’t wait to tell you.”
“I was done,” Perry continues, as Madea interrupts. “But I wasn’t.”
It’d been a good two-decade run for Perry and Madea, who had always been one of the shiniest jewels in the mogul’s media crown. The multi-hyphenate entertainer first debuted the character during his 1999 play “I Can Do Bad All by Myself,” stepping into the role when the actor who was supposed to take the stage couldn’t make the show. Did Perry realize then, that Madea would go on to be such a big part of his career?
“I thought it would just be that one year,” he said. “I never thought it would go this long and mean so much to so many.”
After her big screen debut in 2005’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,”the gun-toting grandma became a worldwide sensation. Over the course of eleven films, the Madea franchise has helped Perry gross more than $1 billion at the box office.
News of Madea’s return comes as Perry is increasing his workload with Netflix. In March, Perry announced he’s producing his longtime passion project, “A Jazzman’s Blues,” for the streamer. That film, which comes from Perry’s first-ever screenplay, written 26 years ago, stars Joshua Boone and Solea Pfeiffer, and “unravels forty years of secrets and lies in a tale of forbidden love and family drama soundtracked by juke joint blues in the deep South.” Rounding out the cast are Amirah Vann, Austin Scott, Milauna Jackson, Brent Antonello, Brad Benedict, Kario Marcel, Lana Young and Ryan Eggold.
Perry’s first Netflix project, “A Fall From Grace” was seen by 39 million households in its first month of release.
Source: Variety
Ken Jeong, Keegan-Michael Key, Debi Mazar, Richard McCabe, Jennifer Saunders and Lydia West have joined the cast of The Pentaverate, Netflix’s previously untitled half-hour comedy limited series, produced by and starring Mike Myers.
Production has begun on the six-episode series in which Myers plays seven new characters.
Created by Myers and directed by Tim Kirkby (Fleabag), the series asks “What if a secret society of five men has been working to influence world events for the greater good since the Black Plague of 1347?” As the series begins, one unlikely Canadian journalist finds himself embroiled in a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world himself. Remember, the Pentaverate must never be exposed!
The Austin Powers, Shrek and former Saturday Night Live star will executive produce with Kirkby, John Lyons — who worked with Myers on the second and third Austin Powers movies — Tony Hernandez (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Younger) and Lilly Burns (Emily in Paris, Younger) for Jax Media, along with The Gong Show exec producer Jason Weinberg.
Jeong, who rose to fame in The Hangover franchise, hosts I Can See Your Voice, which is heading into its second season on Fox, and also serves as a panelist on The Masked Singer. He is repped by ICM Partners, Aligned Entertainment and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
Key stars alongside Cecily Strong in Apple TV+’s upcoming musical comedy series Schmigadoon! and recently appeared on the big screen in The Prom. He’s repped by UTA and Brecheen Feldman Breimer.
Mazar, best known for her role in HBO’s Entourage, most recently starred in Darren Star’s Younger on Paramount+. She’s repped by Curtis Brown Group in the UK and Framework Entertainment.
McCabe’s credits include features The Audience, Eye in the Sky and Wallander. He’s repped by Conway van Gelder Grant in the UK.
Saunders was a writer and star of the iconic BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous. Her other credits include Death on the Nile and The Stranger. She’s repped by United Agents in the UK.
West’s credits include Years and Years, It’s a Sin and Text for You. She’s repped by Independent Talent Group in the UK, WME and Untitled Entertainment.
Source: Deadline
Jennifer Lopez, actor, singer and CEO of Nuyorican Productions, has inked a multi-year, first-look deal with Netflix. Along with producing partners Benny Medina and president of Nuyorican Productions Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Lopez will produce a slate of film and television content, both scripted and unscripted, that showcase diverse female actors, writers and filmmakers.
Two Netflix features starring Lopez — “The Mother,” directed by Niki Caro (“Mulan”), and “The Cipher,” based on the novel of the same name by Isabel Ojeda Maldonado — had been previously announced by the streamer.
“Throughout every aspect of her career, Jennifer Lopez has been a force in entertainment. In partnering with her and Nuyorican, we know she will continue to bring impactful stories, joy and inspiration to audiences around the world,” Scott Stuber, Netflix’s head of global films, said in a prepared statement.
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s head of global TV, praised Lopez as “a singular talent whose creativity and vision have captivated audiences and inspired the next generation around the world. For years, she and the team at Nuyorican have brought a distinctive voice to entertainment, and I’m looking forward to working with her and the team to create new series for our members to love.”
“The Mother” follows a deadly female assassin who comes out of hiding to teach her daughter how to survive. “Lovecraft Country” showrunner Misha Green wrote the screenplay, with current revisions by Andrea Berloff (“Straight Outta Compton”); Caro’s other credits include “The Zookeeper’s Wife” and “Whale Rider.” “The Cipher” centers on FBI Special Agent Nina Guerrera, who finds herself drawn into a serial killer’s case after he strategically posts complex codes and riddles online. The codes correspond to recent murders, designed to lure her into a cat-and-mouse chase. Liza Fleissig, Ginger Harris-Dontzin, Catherine Hagedorn and Maldonado will executive produce, and Courtney Baxter will serve as associate producer.
“I am excited to announce my new partnership with Netflix. Elaine, Benny and I believe there is no better home for us than a forward-leaning content creation company that seeks to defy conventional wisdom and directly market to the millions across the globe who no longer view art and entertainment with the kind of boundaries and limitations of the past,” Lopez said. “We at Nuyorican Productions are thrilled to find like-minded partners in Ted Sarandos, Scott Stuber, Bela Bajaria and the whole team and look forward to getting to work right away.”
Lopez is currently training for her role in “The Mother,” with production set to begin this fall and a scheduled release in the fourth quarter of 2022. The multi-hyphenate has appeared in many films, including “Hustlers,” which she co-produced with her Nuyorican banner.
Source: Variety
MILWAUKEE (June 7, 2021) – Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance is excited to announce that award-winning comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, and actor, Dave Chappelle will headline the American Family Insurance Amphitheater during Summerfest on Saturday, September 11, 2021. This will be the first time that Chappelle has performed at the festival.
Tickets go on sale Friday, June 11, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Summerfest.com and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets include admission to Summerfest the day of the show.
*** No cellphones, cameras or recording devices will be allowed inside the show.***
Upon arrival, all phones & smartwatches will be secured in Yondr pouches that will be unlocked at the end of the show. Guests maintain possession of their phones throughout the night, and may access their phones at designated Yondr unlocking stations in the lobby. Anyone caught with a cellphone in the venue will be immediately ejected. No cameras will be allowed.
Have you heard the one about the big comedy festival? Netflix Is a Joke, which was to feature many top stand-up comics performing in Los Angeles in spring 2020 but was postponed then canceled amid the pandemic, has been rescheduled for April 29-May 8.
Partnered with Live Nation, the streaming service announced the new dates this morning but didn’t provide any other details such as talents or venues. It will be held in L.A., though.
Netflix Is a Joke was announced on March 2, 2020 — just as the coronavirus emergency was taking hold. It was going to be a weeklong yuk-a-thon of more than 100 live shows with an attention-getting lineup: Ali Wong, Amy Schumer, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, David Letterman, Jamie Foxx, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, Kevin Hart, Martin Lawrence, Sebastian Maniscalco, the cast of Schitt’s Creek and more.
There also was to be a christening of The Hall — a hall of fame honoring stand-up legends George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers and Robin Williams. Organizers had set Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Wanda Sykes and others to celebrate and induct the honorees. No word yet on whether that will happen next year.
While we wait to see who will take the stage for the now-inaugural 2022 event, here is a “to-do list” the streamer put out this morning:
ABC has put in development Better Late, a multi-camera comedy from filmmaker David E. Talbert (Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey), Lyn Sisson-Talbert, LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The Springhill Company and ABC Signature.
Written by Talbert, Better Late is inspired by his real life. It’s about a first-time dad whose world gets turned upside down when his own father, a charismatic deadbeat, shows back up hoping for a do-over with his son and a relationship with his grandson. The multi-camera comedy is a show about forgiveness, second chances and the search for silver linings even in the cloudiest of situations.
Talbert, Sisson-Talbert and Springhill Company executive produce. ABC Signature is the studio.
Talbert most recently wrote, directed and produced Netflix’s Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story. He also recently directed and executive produced El Camino Christmas, written and produced by Hidden Figures helmer Ted Melfi and starring Luke Grimes, Tim Allen, Vincent D’Onofrio, Dax Shepard and Jessica Alba. He’s repped by UTA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
Talbert’s wife and producing partner Sisson-Talbert most recently served as producer on Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story and executive producer on El Camino Christmas, among other credits.
Springhill is behind The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street, the documentary about the 1921 Tulsa race riot, which premiered recently on CNN. James and Carter also executive produce Top Class docuseries, which was recently renewed for a second season on IMDb TV.
Source: Deadline
LOS ANGELES, CA – (June 7, 2021) – Today, Laugh Out Loud, the multi-platform comedy brand founded by Kevin Hart, and Wheelhouse Entertainment announced the launch of new comedy competition series LYFT COMICS. Produced by LOL Studios and Wheelhouse’s Spoke Studios in partnership with Lyft Entertainment, the six-episode season will debut today across LOL’s OTT Network and partner channels.
In LYFT COMICS, up-and-coming comedians go head-to-head in a competition that takes the comedy show on the road. In each episode, two comics—undercover as Lyft drivers (in separate cars)—try out their material on unsuspecting passengers, seeing whose set can bring in the most laughs from the back seat. With just three rides each, the comedians compete to see who can get the most laughs—and best star ratings—while en route to their final destinations. At the end of each episode, the comedian with the highest cumulative rating is crowned winner by Kevin Hart.
At a time when it feels like the world needs a laugh, LYFT COMICS is a celebration of unexpected humor, showcasing the magic and connective tissue of comedy.
The new series is executive produced by Will Nothacker and Tony Biancosino for Wheelhouse’s Spoke Studios, and Kevin Hart, Jeff Clanagan, and Candice Wilson Cherry for Laugh Out Loud.
“LYFT COMICS is the latest example of how LOL develops new formats to spotlight emerging voices in comedy,” said Head of Development and Production at Laugh Out Loud, Candice Wilson Cherry. “We’re excited to see this partnership with Wheelhouse come to life, they are a true powerhouse in unscripted content and with the addition of Lyft Entertainment, we couldn’t have asked for two better partners to bring this together as we continue our mission to keep the world laughing together.”
Added Wheelhouse Chief Content Officer Eric Wattenberg, “‘LYFT COMICS’ allows Wheelhouse to deliver on our mission of combining top talent with breakthrough brands and giving fans a heightened entertainment experience. It’s great to see our partnership with LOL come to fruition in this series, and we’re excited for the many projects to come.”
The premiere of LYFT COMICS arrives one year after Laugh Out Loud and Wheelhouse Entertainment announced a co-production deal to develop, produce and distribute unscripted programming, showcasing fresh comedic stories and new voices. As part of the deal, the two companies also partner with brands to co-fund and co-produce original content, tapping Wheelhouse and Laugh Out Loud’s innovative brand, creative and marketing capabilities — an approach highlighted by the current partnership with Lyft Entertainment.
Laugh Out Loud previously partnered with Lyft for the Hart-led series Lyft Legend, which was the #1 piece of branded content on the Internet the week of its launch and reached more than 90 million views.
All six episodes of LYFT COMICS will begin streaming today across the LOL OTT Network, including Peacock, Pluto, Tubi, Roku, Vizio, and more, for binge-able viewing.
Tiffany Haddish will play the fastest woman in the world.
The “Girls Trip” actress will star as Florence Griffith Joyner, known as “Flo-Jo” to her fans, who helped popularize track and field with her record-breaking Olympic run and flashy personality and style (she originated the “one-legger” look with her running suits). Many of the records that Joyner set in the 1988 Olympics, including those in the 100 m and 200 m, have yet to be broken. Joyner died in 1998 at the age of 38 of an epileptic seizure.
Haddish will produce the film, as well. A release announcing the project says that Joyner was one of Haddish’s heroes growing up.
Game1 Co-CEO’s Basil Iwanyk and Greg Economou will also serve as producers on this film. In addition, Flo-Jo’s widower and former coach, Al Joyner, will serve as a producer and creative consultant on the project. Additionally, he has already begun training Haddish to play the role, using methods that his late wife deployed during her career. Melanie Clark of She Ready Productions will also serve as a producer, while Jonathan Fuhrman of Thunder Road Pictures will serve as an executive producer.
“We are thrilled to partner with Tiffany on such an important project,” said Iwanyk. “Tiffany has established herself as one of the greatest entertainers in the world today – helping her tell the story of her idol Flo-Jo is an amazing honor and privilege.”
Therese Andrews, EVP of Production at game1, is spearheading the entire project.
“I am looking forward to telling Flo-Jo’s story the way it should be told,” said Haddish. “My goal with this film is making sure that younger generations know my ‘she-ro’ Flo-Jo, the fastest woman in the world to this day, existed.”
“I am so elated to team up with game1 and Tiffany Haddish on this project,” said Joyner. “Working with Tiffany has been a great pleasure – she is incredibly dedicated, focused, and committed to portraying the spirit of Florence accurately, whose legacy of making a difference in the world will live on for generations to come. I hope that this film touches all who see it and inspires people to BE the change the world so desperately needs right now!”
Haddish’s recent credits include the comedies “Like a Boss,” “Night School,” and “Here Today” opposite Billy Crystal. She will next appear in Paul Schrader’s “The Card Counter” alongside Oscar Isaac and Tye Sheridan.
In addition to the film, game1 and Haddish announced they will partner on companion projects, including a documentary series and a podcast. These will involve the contributions of brands.
Source: Variety
We got a chance to interview comedian and actor Lil Duval about his new film ‘The House Next Door: Meet The Blacks 2′, and he discussed his new roles, his new films, his new projects and more!
Check out the interview below:
Nine-time Grammy®-winning recording artist and Academy Award nominated singer and actress Mary J. Blige set the music world on fire with her trailblazing 1994 LP “My Life,” a collection of powerful confessionals about her battles with abuse, depression and addiction that forged a profound and enduring connection with millions of fans around the globe.
In Oscar®-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth’s documentary Mary J. Blige’s My Life, the singer, producer and actress reveals the demons and blessings that inspired the record and propelled her from the soul-crushing world of New York’s housing projects to international stardom. In the process, she celebrates the 25th anniversary of her most influential work by performing the album live for the first time.
Watch the trailer below;