Ryan Coogler Pitched Eddie Murphy A ‘Coming To America’ Sequel That Would Have Starred Michael B. Jordan
Eddie Murphy has revealed Ryan Coogler pitched him a sequel to Coming to America, starring Michael B. Jordan.
The actor, set to reprise his role as Prince Akeem, told the New York Times there was no initial plan to make a sequel before the Black Panther director shared his idea.
“Before he directed Black Panther, I meet with him and he says, ‘I want to do a Coming to America sequel,’” Murphy told the publication.
“He had an idea for Michael B. Jordan to play my son and he would be looking for a wife. I was like, then the movie would be about the son, it’s not our characters, we already did that. It didn’t come together.”
Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy in ‘Coming 2 America’ CREDIT: Amazon Studios
He then explained how Coogler’s idea did still prompt the team to eventually consider another film.
“But all that made me start thinking, maybe we should do a sequel,” Murphy continued. “I saw the Terminator movie where they made Arnold Schwarzenegger young — his face looked like Arnold, but young — and that’s where I got it.
“If we use that to make us young and create a new scene in the club [from the original “Coming to America”] where we’re out looking for the girls, so it’s part of that night. I go home with a girl and I’m high — that was the piece we needed to start the flow.”
Coming 2 America was directed by Craig Brewer (Dolemite is My Name) from a script by Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein, and David Sheffield.
The film will be released on Amazon Prime Video on March 5, 2021.
George Wallace Joins Laverne Cox For Comedy Titled ‘Clean Slate’
Norman Lear is getting into business with IMDb TV. He has set two projects in development at the Amazon-owned free streaming service including the Laverne Cox-George Wallace comedy Clean Slate, which previously was in development at Peacock.
The streamer is working with Lear’s Act III Productions and Sony Pictures Television, where Lear is under an overall deal, on Clean Slate and Loteria.
Clean Slate, which initially was announced as part of NBCUniversal’s development slate in January 2020, is set to star Cox and Wallace. The half-hour comedy follows Henry (Wallace), an old-school car wash owner who is thrilled that his estranged child is returning home to Alabama after 17 years. However, Henry has a lot of soul searching to do when the child he thought was a son returns as the determined, proud trans woman Desiree (Cox).
Cox and Wallace wrote the story with Dan Ewen, who wrote feature film Playing with Fire and is rebooting the Ernest franchise. Ewen wrote the pilot script and will act as showrunner and exec producer. Cox will also exec produce alongside Lear and Brent Miller. Wallace will be a producer.
Meanwhile, the hourlong drama Loteria, which is based on the card game, follows two estranged teen siblings who set off on an adventure across Mexico to collect 16 magical Lotería cards, unearthing the power of their history and culture in the hope of reuniting their family.
Felipe Vargas, whose fantasy short film The Guide was picked up by Dust in 2019, wrote the script and will co-exec produce. Lear and Miller will exec produce with creators Alberto Belli and Juan Pablo Reyes.
Source: Deadline
Cedric The Entertainer Joins Devon Franklin To Support Urban One’s Future Makers Campaign with AT&T
SILVER SPRING, MD) February 22, 2021 – Urban One and AT&T announced the launch of the “Black Future Makers” cross-platform campaign aimed at profiling three Black business owners who are paving the way for future generations. Hosted by award-winning film producer DeVon Franklin, the interviews highlight each ‘Future Makers’ accomplishments and examine their most pressing business needs. Cedric The Entertainer then pairs them with the resources they need to take their businesses to the next level. Throughout February and March, iOne Digital, TV One, and CLEO TV will feature the video interview series, highlighting Marcus Carter, Kenya Blane, and Gillissha Cox’s journey to gain the entrepreneurial solutions they need for even greater success.
Devon Franklin
“At AT&T, we work to create opportunities, strengthen communities, and improve lives,” said Angela Burgin, AT&T director of marketing for the company’s Global Marketing Organization. “Black Future Makers is one of the many ways we celebrate, honor and uplift the voices and actions of those making a meaningful contribution to our society.”
“I received my undergraduate degree in Business with an emphasis in entrepreneurship, so I jumped at the chance to join AT&T Black Future Makers because I’m deeply committed to the present and future of black entrepreneurs,” said Devon Franklin. “A Black Future Maker means to me someone Black who maximizes the present because what is yet to come is directly related to what is done right now.”
“Urban One is happy to be once again partnering with AT&T for their Black History Month initiative entitled Black Future Makers,” remarked Rahsan-Rahsan Lindsay, EVP, One Solution. “AT&T’s continued commitment to highlighting Black voices and stories speaks volumes about their commitment to the Black community at large. Moreover, their investment in Black-owned companies like Urban One is vital to our long term viability. We plan to continue amplifying this message well beyond this month.”
This multi-platform campaign will consist of the content streaming channel on MadameNoire where consumers can view the videos. Additional profiles and interviews with the Future Makers will be featured in promotional spots to run across the Radio One network of stations, and online on MadameNoire and Bossip. Additionally, AT&T’s Cory Anthony, Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity & Development Officer will make an on-air appearance on the Morning Hustle and The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, two of Reach Media’s top-rated programs. MadameNoire visitors can also enter the AT&T Black Future Makers Contest to be to be honored as a future maker. 10 winners will win $10,000 to pursue their dream. Contest rules can be found here.
Meet the Future Makers
Marcus Carter, Multiplication Live
Marcus Carter’s Multiplication Live is a non-profit online program designed to assist children master multiplication. The program, which incorporates music, decreases the intimidation and adds on the fun. Marcus needs to help find sponsors to help with the funding necessary to bring his learning tool to schools.
Kenya Blane, Nursing Infusion Centers of America (NICA) in Corona, CA
Kenya is a registered nurse who launched an accredited infusion therapy center after the pandemic began overwhelming hospitals. Kenya’s center has made medical and wellness infusions accessible to people who could no longer visit hospitals for regular treatments. Kenya is seeking mentorship to guide her through the franchise process.
Gillissha Cox, Kloset Kraving
A daughter of entrepreneurs, Gillissha was inspired to have her own business after getting her start working in her parent’s various companies. Gillissha is a single mom with a brick and mortar boutique. Gilissha, a one-woman operation, could benefit from digital support in the form of a website, professional photos, and social media content.
Prince Markie Dee Of The Fat Boys Reportedly Passes Away At 52
Prince Markie Dee of The Fat Boys has passed away at the age of 52.
Born Mark Anthony Morales, Markie Dee was 1/3 of The Fat Boys, which was one of the first rap acts to crossover into the mainstream. After coming up under Kurtis Blow, the Brooklyn trio was apart of the first wave of Hip Hop acts to achieve pop success along with LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Whodini, and others. The Fat Boys appeared in major motion picture films in the 1980s, including Krush Groove and Disorderlies.
Prince Markie Dee is also credited as one of the first major rap stars of Puerto Rican descent. After The Fat Boys broke up, Markie Dee transitioned into a successful solo career as an artist and producer. As a solo artist, he had a number one rap hit with “Typical Reasons (Swing My Way).” As a songwriter and producer, Prince Markie Dee wrote and produced tracks for Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Craig Mack, Mark Anthony, and others.
WATCH: New Restricted Trailer For ‘Mortal Kombat’ Released!
MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan) is unaware of his heritage – or why Outworld’s Emperor seeks to hunt him down. Cole finds sanctuary under Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) and prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high-stakes battle for the universe.
Will Cole be able to unleash his arcana in time to stop the Outworld once and for all? Mortal Kombat is in theaters April 16th and streaming exclusively on HBO Max at 12:01 am PT/3:01 am ET. Available on HBO Max in the US only at no extra cost to subscribers for 31 days from its theatrical release.
Watch the RESTRICTED trailer below;
Comedy That Takes On Biggie Smalls Murder Mystery In Works At Showtime
In a competitive situation, Showtime has landed for development a single-camera comedy project created by writers/stand-up comedians Moshe Kasher and Jermaine Fowler.
Written by Kasher and Fowler, the untitled comedy is set in 1997. In South Central Los Angeles, the heart of West Coast gangster rap, a group of teenage social outcasts attempts to solve the mystery of the murder of their hero, Biggie Smalls.
Kasher and Fowler, who will not be acting in the show, executive produce with 3 Arts Entertainment’s Michael Rotenberg and Josh Lieberman for CBS Studios. The comedy duo appeared together in the 2020 stand-up-themed film The Opening Act.
Kasher’s recent writing credits include HBO’s Betty and Apple TV+’s Little America. On camera, he is known for Comedy Central’s Another Period, which he also wrote for; Problematic with Moshe Kasher, which he created; as well as The Endless Honeymoon Stand -Up Special on Netflix. Kasher is repped by WME, 3 Arts and attorneys Karl Austen and Michael Auerbach.
Fowler’s acting credits include Coming 2 America and CBS’ comedy series Superior Donuts, for which he also wrote. Fowler is repped by UTA, Priya Satiani at Management 360 and attorney Jared Levine.
Source: Deadline
Whoopi Goldberg & Jasmine Guy Join New Comedy ‘Harlem’ In Recurring Roles
Whoopi Goldberg and Jasmine Guy are set for recurring roles in Amazon’s Harlem, the comedy series from Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip), Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions and Universal TV.
Created, written and executive produced by Oliver, Harlem, formerly the Untitled Tracy Oliver Project, is a single-camera comedy following the lives of four black women, friends from their college days at NYU, as they navigate sex, relationships and chasing their dreams.
Goldberg plays Dr Elise Pruitt, the brilliant, intense new department head at Columbia University with a warmth that has a fragile on/off switch.
Guy portrays Patricia, Quinn’s wealthy mom who wants her daughter to give up her seemingly failing career as a designer and just settle down.
Oliver executive produces with Paper Kite’s Poehler and Kim Lessing and 3 Arts’ Dave Becky. Amazon Studios and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, produce in association with Paper Kite.
Goldberg currently moderates ABC’s The View, for which she has won a Daytime Emmy Award. She can also be seen in the adaptation of Stephen King’s bestselling novel The Stand on CBS All Access. She’ll soon lend her voice to the upcoming animated comedy Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk.
Known for her lead role as Whitley on all six seasons of A Different World, Guy recently starred as Elizabeth Wright in Kevin Wilson Jr.’s short film My Nephew Emmett. Her TV credits include The Quad and The Vampire Diaries, and she recently recurred on the long-running ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy and starred in the BET movie Open. Guy is represented by Kass Management.
Source: Deadline
‘Black Adam’ Casts ‘Old Guard’ Actor Marwan Kenzari Of ‘Alladdin’ Fame
New Line’s DC superhero movie is heading toward an April start in Atlanta with Noah Centineo, Aldis Hodge and Quintessa Swindell also on the roll call.
Marwan Kenzari, the Aladdin star who stole scenes in The Old Guard, is in final negotiations to join Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam, New Line’s action-adventure thriller featuring the DC Comics antihero.
The feature is heading toward an April start in Atlanta with Noah Centineo, Aldis Hodge and Quintessa Swindell on the roll call.
Black Adam is the second New Line/DC film following 2019’s critical and commercial hit Shazam! with the two characters, Shazam and Black Adam, being arch-rivals in the DC Universe.
Plot details for the project are being firmly held in the kingdom of Kahndaq but one thing superhero and film fans are excited about is the big-screen introduction of DC superteam, the Justice Society. Hodge is portraying Hawkman, Centineo is Atom Smasher, while Swindell is Cyclone.
Kenzari’s role is being kept secret.
Jaume Collet-Serra, who also directed Johnson opposite Emily Blunt in Disney’s upcoming Jungle Cruise, is directing Black Adam.
Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia of Seven Bucks Productions are producing with Beau Flynn of FlynnPictureCo. The project reunites the team behind Jungle Cruise, which is currently set to open July 30, 2021.
FlynnPictureCo’s Scott Sheldon is serving as executive producer. Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani wrote the latest draft with Adam Sztykiel writing the previous draft.
Kenzari, a Dutch actor of Tunisian heritage, played the villainous Jafar in Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin, which grossed over $1 billion at the box office in 2019. He then co-starred as one-half of an immortal romantic duo in Netflix’s Old Guard, the Charlize Theron action thriller that was viewed over 78 million times in its initial four weeks, according to the streamer, making it one of the company’s most-watched movies.
Kenzari, who also starred in Instinct, a Dutch drama that premiered in 2019 at the Toronto International Film Festival and also served as the country’s entry into the foreign-language Oscar race, is repped by ICM Partners.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
‘Bob Hearts Abishola,’ And ‘The Neighborhood’ Renewed At CBS
CBS is beginning to put its 2021-22 slate together.
The broadcast network has handed out early renewals for its Monday comedies, handing out a third season for Chuck Lorre’s Bob Hearts Abishola and a fourth season to Cedric the Entertainer’s The Neighborhood.
Both multicamera comedies — which have been filmed during the pandemic without their traditional live studio audiences — have helped CBS break through on Monday nights. The Neighborhood, from Big Bang Theory grad Jim Reynolds, ranks as TV’s second most-watched comedy with a reach of more than 7 million viewers. Bob Hearts Abishola, which marks a reunion for Lorre with Mike & Molly alum Billy Gardell, has collected 6.7 million viewers after moving from its perch on Thursdays last season.
“We’re extremely proud of these two comedies, and delighted to bring them back next season,” said Thom Sherman, senior exec vp programming at CBS. “The Neighborhood and Bob Hearts Abishola masterfully blend humor with relatable and culturally relevant storylines, and are tremendous, successful Monday night anchors.”
The two comedies mark the first renewals for CBS this season. Bob Hearts Abishola, from Warner Bros. TV, is one of multiple Lorre-produced shows at CBS. Big Bang Theory prequel Young Sheldon is awaiting word on its fifth season; Mom — the network’s longest-running comedy — is currently in its eighth season, while rookie B Positive was picked up for a full season. Fellow freshman United States of Al will debut in April.
Bob Hearts Abishola, co-starring Folake Olowofoyeku, is exec produced by Lorre, Al Higgins and Beth McCarthy Miller. Gina Yashere is co-executive producer and writer. The Neighborhood, featuring Max Greenfield, Beth Behrs and Tichina Arnold, is from CBS Studios and is exec produced by Reynolds, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor, Wendi Trilling, Cedric the Entertainer and Eric Rhone.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
‘Shirley’ Regina King To Star As Shirley Chisholm In New Film Titled ‘Shirley’
Oscar winner Regina King will portray America’s first Black Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in the John Ridley written and directed feature Shirley which Participant will produce.
King has expressed publicly for some time her desire to play Chisholm, and that opportunity is finally happening. Cameras will roll later this year.
King & Reina King of Royal Ties Productions will produce. Jeff Skoll and Anikah McLaren will Executive Produce.
Shirley follows the dynamic presidential campaign launched in 1972 by Shirley Chisholm. The feature is based on her life story rights through an exclusive agreement with the Chisholm Estate, and the movie will provide an intimate, behind-the-scenes portrait of the ground-breaking political leader during a seminal period in modern American history.
“Shirley Chisholm’s fearless determination has been an inspiration to so many of us, and with this film we hope to inspire many generations to come,” Regina King said. “To collaborate once again with my friend and mentor, John Ridley, and the team at Participant, makes this decade-long journey even sweeter.”
Ridley added: “Regina’s passion for bringing a complete and very human portrait of Shirley to life has been evident since literally the day we first met. I’m very thankful to both Regina and Reina trusting me to partner in telling the story of this truly remarkable individual.”
“Shirley Chisholm’s life as a politician and her groundbreaking career in Washington is a critical part of American history that is far too often overlooked,” said Participant CEO David Linde. “We are thrilled to partner with John, Regina, Reina and a tremendously talented creative team to share the story of this remarkable woman with audiences everywhere.”
King most recently directed and executive produced One Night in Miami and starred in HBO’s Watchmen, for which she won an Emmy . She is represented by ICM Partners, John Carrabino Management and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman. One Night in Miami received three Golden Globe nominations including King for Best Director as well as two SAG noms including Best Ensemble.
Ridley currently is writing, producing and directing the new limited series Five Days At Memorial for Apple TV+ and was the creator and showrunner of the Emmy Award-winning television series American Crime. Ridley is the Oscar-winning screenwriter of 12 Years a Slave. He is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Rohner & Walerstein.
