FX Sets Season 3 Premiere Date For John Singleton’s ‘Snowfall’
FX has set the premiere date for the third season of the 1980s period drama, Snowfall.
Chuck Safter, COO of FX Networks, announced Thursday that the junior season will debut July 10 at 10 p.m. on FX.
The third season of Snowfall will take place in 1984, during the height of the crack epidemic in South Central Los Angeles. In the wake of the growing epidemic, budding kingpin Franklin Saint (Damson Idris) becomes a target of interest by his next-door neighbor, Sergeant Andre Wright (Marcus Henderson). Meanwhile, Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson) and the CIA are working overtime to make sure the flow of cocaine into Los Angeles doesn’t stop anytime soon. To continue funding the war against communism in Central America, Teddy uses Gustava “El Oso” Zapata (Sergio Peris-Mencheta) to find new routes into the United States.
Emily Rios, Reign Edwards, Amin Joseph, Isaiah John, Malcolm Mays and more also star.
Snowfall was created by John Singleton, Eric Amadio and Dave Andron. Snowfall is executive produced by Amadio, Andron, Thomas Schlamme, Michael London and Trevor Engelson. Andron serves as showrunner.
Singleton, who made history as the first Black person and the youngest filmmaker ever to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director (Boyz In The Hood),died recently after complications following a stroke.
Source: SHadow & Act
Lupita Nyong’o To Star In And Produce New Universal Sci-Fi Comedy
Universal Pictures has won an auction for a sci-fi comedy that is a star vehicle for Lupita Nyong’o, who will re-team with the principals behind Little Monsters, the Sundance film that sold to NEON and Hulu. Abe Forsythe is writing the script and directing. Nyong’o will produce with Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky. Emil Stern, Sigmund Stern and Jeanne Snow will be executive producers.
The project was pitched as Miss Universe — it won’t go out under that title –and sources describe it as Men In Black meets Miss Congeniality.
Forsythe is the Australian filmmaker who also wrote and directed Down Under. Already an Oscar winner for her breakout film 12 Years A Slave, Nyong’o has greatly elevated her star recently with electric turns in the Jordan Peele-directed Us for Universal, and the Ryan Coogler-directed Marvel blockbuster Black Panther. She has numerous vehicles revving, including John Woo’s remake of The Killer and 355, the international spy thriller from Universal and FilmNation that Simon Kinberg is directing, with Nyong’o starring alongside Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, and Bingbing Fan.
On the Made Up Stories front, the producer just got a straight-to-series order for 2020 from Hulu on Nine Perfect Strangers, based on Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty’s latest book, with Papandrea reteaming with Nicole Kidman, Endeavor Content and writer-producer David E. Kelley.
Universal senior exec veep of production Erik Baiers and director of development Lexi Barta will oversee for the studio.
Nyong’o is repped by CAA and Del Shaw Moonves. Forsythe is repped by CAA, Grandview and Barry Littman at Hansen, Jacobson; Papandrea is represented by WME.
Source:Deadline
Alicia Keys-Produced Dance Comedy From STX ‘Work It’ Casts Keiynan Lonsdale As Co-Star
Keiynan Lonsdale will co-star in the Alicia Keys-produced STX dance comedy flick, Work It.
The project was first announced by Keys at CinemaCon. Singer-actress Sabrina Carpenter, who appeared in last year’s critically-acclaimed The Hate U Give will topline the film. She’s joined by Lonsdale and Liza Koshy.
It is directed by Laura Terruso, who is rewriting the script from Allison Peck.
The description: Work It is a coming of age comedy which follows an awkward teenage girl (Carpenter) who after being rejected from her high school’s dance team, assembles a crew of bold and fearless misfits to compete against them in a natural dance championship
Lonsdale, who starred in The CW’s DC Comics shows The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow from 2015-2018, last appeared on the big screen in Greg Berlanti’s Love, Simon in 2018.
ABC Picks Up ‘black-ish’ For Season 6 And ‘mixed-ish,’ An All-New Comedy!
The Johnsons will be back for Season 6 of “black-ish,” as The ABC Television Network announced it is picking up the acclaimed comedy for the 2019-2020 season. In addition, ABC will expand the award-winning “black-ish” franchise even further, with the network giving an early series order to “mixed-ish,” a spinoff about Rainbow Johnson’s experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the ‘80s.
Critically acclaimed “black-ish” has received a Peabody Award and several Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominations, including a Golden Globe win for Tracee Ellis Ross in 2017. It swept the 2019 NAACP Image Awards’ Outstanding Comedy Series category for the fifth year in a row, among other honors. The comedy also spawned the spinoff “grown-ish,” which returns for the second half of Season 2 this summer on Freeform.
The series stars Anthony Anderson as Andre “Dre” Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow Johnson, Laurence Fishburne as Pops, Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson, Marcus Scribner as Andre Johnson Jr., Miles Brown as Jack Johnson, Marsai Martin as Diane Johnson, Jenifer Lewis as Ruby, Peter Mackenzie as Mr. Stevens and Deon Cole as Charlie Telphy. ABC’s “black-ish” was created by Kenya Barris and is executive produced by Barris, Jonathan Groff, Kenny Smith, Gail Lerner, Courtney Lilly, Lindsey Shockley, Peter Saji, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland and E. Brian Dobbins. The series is produced by ABC Studios.
In “mixed-ish,” Rainbow Johnson recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the ‘80s and the constant dilemmas they had to face over whether to assimilate or stay true to themselves. Bow’s parents Paul and Alicia decide to move from a hippie commune to the suburbs to better provide for their family. As her parents struggle with the challenges of their new life, Bow and her siblings navigate a mainstream school in which they’re perceived as neither black nor white. This family’s experiences illuminate the challenges of finding one’s own identity when the rest of the world can’t decide where you belong.
The series stars Arica Himmel as Bow Johnson, Tika Sumpter as Alicia Johnson, Christina Anthony as Denise, Mykal-Michelle Harris as Santamonica Johnson and Ethan Childress as Johan Johnson.
Peter Saji and Kenya Barris are writers and executive producers along with Tracee Ellis Ross, Randall Winston, Artists First (Brian Dobbins), Cinema Gypsy (Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland) and Anthony Anderson. This series is produced by ABC Studios.
Jamie Foxx One Step Closer To Making Mike Tyson Biopic!
Jamie Foxx better start bulking up because he’s going to have to put on weight to become Iron Mike Tyson for an upcoming biopic.
The Oscar-winning actor shared a picture of himself this week during a meeting with Mike Tyson, and said, “Thank u for the trust… one step closer.”
For years, stirrings of a biopic about the boxer’s career has been in the works and the boxer has made it known he wanted Foxx to be the one to play him.
Martin Scorsese has also been rumored to be tied to the project, but the director has not confirmed those reports.
The fact Foxx and Tyson are publicly discussing the project definitely adds fuel to the fire that an official announcement could be made soon.
The former heavyweight champ also recently appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience” and said the movie is going to be “wild.”
Is Eddie Murphy Open To Michael Blackson Being Cast In ‘Coming To America 2’?
Either Eddie Murphy caught wind of what Akon had to say or great minds really do think alike.
Earlier this month Akon, who grew up in Senegal as a child, told TMZ that the Coming to America sequel should post actual Africans for the movies. More specifically, he named Michael Blackson as the ideal candidate for the second installment of the classic film.
“There’s no way you can do Coming to America without adding someone like Michael Blackson, who’s African and is one of the funniest African comedians out there,” Akon said.
Murphy seems to agree with the 46-year-old mogul. On Tuesday TMZ caught up with the comedian to ask him about Coming to America 2 and Eddie Murphy mentioned the Ghanaian-American comedian before the camera guy could give any suggestions.
“Oh yeah. I’ll tell you that there’s one funny African,” he said as he got into his car. “That Michael Blackson.”
“That would be life changing!” Blackson told TMZ of the opportunity if it were to present itself. Everyone in the world is gonna watch that movie.”
Blackson previously expressed interest in starring in the sequel. “We’ll see what happens … what I would suggest … let’s go to another place that’s hot … Atlanta and deal with a new generation of crazy kids,” the comedian said. “[Eddie’s] brilliant. He’ll come up with something.”
Coming to America 2 will be helmed by Craig Brewer, and written by Kenya Barris. The movie is slate to be released on Aug. 7, 2020.
Source: TMZ, The Source
Marlon Wayans Visits Real 92.3 LA And Blasts-“F*%* everybody, F*%* Your Sensitivity”
Comedian and actor Marlon Wayans had a chance to visit Radio station Real 92.3 LA and spoke up about free speech, the right to do stand up, and most importantly as a comedian the right to say whatever you want (thanks to the 1st Amendment_ on stage. Watch below;
Showtime Expands ‘Desus & Mero’ To Two Nights A Week For Special Summer Run
Showtime is showing its commitment to Desus & Mero.
The series, which is the premium cabler’s first-ever late-night show, will air this summer for a special run and for this run, it will be expanded to two nights a week.
The summer run will begin on May 6, with the series airing Monday and Thursday nights at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT until it goes on hiatus beginning August 5. Upcoming guests include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Charlize Theron, Amy Poehler, Gabrielle Union, Seth Rogen, Spike Lee, Bill Hader, Regina Hall and many more.
The official description: Longtime acquaintances Desus (Daniel Baker) and Mero (Joel Martinez) reconnected online in the early days of Twitter, where they unleashed their potent personalities and found themselves kindred spirits. That led to stints on Complex and MTV, the Bodega Boys podcast and a daily late-night show on Viceland, developing a feverish following. The quick-witted duo brings a distinct voice to late night, delivering smart and comedic commentary on any and all topics, that keeps audiences buzzing. Desus and Mero continue to host their Bodega Boys podcast.
Source: Shadow & Act
Jaden Smith To Play Young Kanye West In Showtime Anthology Series
File this under the truly bizarre: Kanye West is developing a Showtime anthology in which Jaden Smith would play a young Kanye West in an alternate reality.
Ominverse is described as a limited half-hour anthology series “examining the many doors of perception.” The first season, the one for which a pilot script has been commissioned, would explore ego through the alternative reality of West.
From West, Scooter Braun’s SB Projects, Westbrook Studios and writer Lee Sung Jin, it would be the first anthology to hit Showtime in some years. The network, which has been making a noted push to expand its original offerings, has yet to put an anthology on the air since they became en vogue again in recent years. And while it doesn’t exactly sound like a comedy, it’s half-hour status would fill some much-needed holes at the network. Showtime has been more aggressive in the drama space and limited space, and recent stabs at half-hours — see SMILF or White Famous — have proven short-lived.
For all of West’s dabbling in media and culture, this would also be the first TV series to his credit. He’ll serve as executive producer alongside Braun, Jin, Smith, James Shin, Scott Manson and Miguel Melendez.
No other details, aside from the cryptic logline, were immediately available.
The script comes from Jin, whose comedy credits include Silicon Valley, Netflix newcomer Tuca & Bertie and upcoming Amazon animated series Undone.
Jin is repped by WME, Grandview Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller. Smith is also at WME.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
‘The Chi’ Renewed For Season 3 On Showtime
SHOWTIME has picked up the hit drama series THE CHI for a third season. Created and executive produced by Emmy® winner Lena Waithe (Boomerang,Master of None) and executive produced by Academy Award®, Emmy and Golden Globe® winner Common (Selma), THE CHI is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. The cast includes Jason Mitchell (Mudbound, Straight Outta Compton), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (Queen of Katwe), Jacob Latimore (Sleight), Alex Hibbert (Moonlight), Yolonda Ross (Treme) and Armando Riesco (Bull). The second season is currently airing Sundays at 10 p.m. PT/ET.
“THE CHI revels in revealing the beating heart of the South Side of Chicago,” said Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc. “We, like our viewers, have fallen in love with these characters and we remain eager to see where Lena and her fellow artists will take them in season three.”
Produced entirely in its namesake city, season two of THE CHI spotlights Brandon’s (Mitchell) ambitious plan for his food truck business. Emmett (Latimore) makes an effort to grow up and get custody of his son, while his mother Jada (Ross) discovers a new life of her own. Kevin (Hibbert) reckons with trauma as he strengthens bonds with his buddies. Ronnie (Mwine) attempts to reclaim his life, while Detective Cruz (Riesco) launches a new investigation. In addition to Waithe and Common, Ayanna Floyd Davis (Empire, Hannibal), Aaron Kaplan (Santa Clarita Diet, Divorce), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), and Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of Freedom Road Productions served as executive producers on season two. THE CHI is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios.
