Danai Gurira is a hot commodity!
Surely fielding many, many offers after her film breakout in Black Panther, she’s in early talks to join two blockbuster films.
The first is Godzilla vs. Kong, the fourth in the series from Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment. Set for a May 2020 release, she’d be one of the film’s leads, joining Millie Bobby Brown and Julian Dennison.
She’s also circling around the next Star Trek film at Paramount, directed by the first woman to helm a Star Trek film, S.J. Clarkson.
Gurira also continues to star in The Walking Dead as Michonne.
Source: Shadow & Act
Nominations for the 2018 (70th annual) Primetime Emmy Awards were announced by the Television Academy in a ceremony hosted by Samira Wiley from The Handmaid’s Tale and Ryan Eggold from NBC’s upcoming drama, New Amsterdam.
In the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series category, Sterling K. Brown is nominated for This Is Us and Jeffrey Wright is nominated for Westworld.
In the Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series category, Tracee Ellis Ross is nominated for black-ish. This is her third Emmy nomination for the ABC comedy series. Issa Rae is also nominated for Insecure in her first nomination.
In the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series category, Anthony Anderson is nominated for black-ish and Donald Glover is nominated for Atlanta. This is Anderson’s 4th nomination for black-ish (he’s never won) and Glover’s second for Atlanta.
In the Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series category, Thandie Newton is nominated for Westworld. She was nominated for the role last season as well.
In the Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series category, Brian Tyree Henry nets a nomination for Atlanta for the first time. Tituss Burgess is also nominated for The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Kenan Thompson for Saturday Night Live!
In the Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series category, Zazie Beetz is nominated for the first time for her work in Atlanta. Leslie Jones is nominated for Saturday Night Live.
In the Outstanding Comedy Series category, Atlanta and black-ish are nominated; the second for Atlanta, and the third for black-ish. GLOW is also nominated.
In the Outstanding Drama Series category, This is Us, Stranger Things and Westworld are nominated.
In the Outstanding Television Movie category, Fahrenheit 451 is nominated.
In the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie category, Regina King is nominated for Seven Seconds.
In the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category, John Legend for Jesus Christ Superstar Live! He could get an EGOT if he wins this.
In the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category, Brandon Victor Dixon is nominated for Jesus Christ Superstar Live!
In the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie category, Letitia Wright is nominated for Black Mirror and Adina Porter is nominated for American Horror Story.
In the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series category, Cicely Tyson is nominated for How to Get Away with Murder, Viola Davis is nominated for Scandal, Kelly Jenrette for The Handmaid’s Tale and Samira Wiley is nominated for The Handmaid’s Tale as well (she was nominated in the Supporting category for the role last year).
In the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series category, Ron Cephas Jones is nominated for This is Us.
In the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category, Maya Rudolph is nominated for The Good Place, Wanda Sykes for black-ish and Tiffany Haddish gets her first Emmy nomination for Saturday Night Live!
In the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category, Katt Williams is nominated for Atlanta, Donald Glover is nominated for Saturday Night Live! and Sterling K. Brown is nominated for Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
View the full list of nominees here.
The 70th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, September 17, 2017 and will be broadcast in the U.S. by CBS. Saturday Night Live’s Michael Che and Colin Jost will host.
800 Pound Gorilla Records announces today’s release of Ticking Boxes, the highly-anticipated album from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’s British Correspondent Gina Yashere.
Unfiltered and all-encompassing, the new audio version of Yashere’s third special was SiriusXM’s May 25 Raw Dog Album of the Week. Following previous hours Laughing to America and Skinny Bitch, Ticking Boxes was recorded live at London’s 02 Brixton Academy, and finds the international superstar sharing multihyphenate perspectives as a black female, Nigerian Brit, and a LGBTQ immigrant.
“We couldn’t be more honored to be working with one of the most unique comedy voices in the world.,” says 800 Pound Gorilla co-founder Damion Greiman. “Gina’s fiercely candid outlook belies an undeniable empathy, making the most cutting-edge observations and impressions feel effortlessly timeless.”
Gina Yashere was born and raised in London by Nigerian parents, and previously worked as an elevator operator. As a U.K. stand-up and TV star of several years, she has appeared on such iconic shows as Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week, and created popular characters on The Lenny Henry Show. She relocated to New York City after breaking onto the American comedy scene on Last Comic Standing.
Yashere was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Top 10 Rising Talents and became the only British comic to ever perform on the Def Comedy Jam. She since appeared on The Tonight Show, Crashing, Comedy Central’s @Midnight, and as The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’s British Correspondent. In addition to frequently touring across Europe, the U.S., Australia, and Asia, she was named Best Comedian at the U.K.’s Black Entertainment and Comedy Awards four years in a row.
Chadwick Boseman has set his next project.
For STXFilms, he’ll star in the action thriller 17 Bridges from Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers: Infinity War).
The film centers on a New York Police Department detective (Boseman) “who, after being thrust into a citywide manhunt for a cop killer, is given a shot at redemption.”
Boseman will also produce the film, along with his writing and producing partner Logan Coles.
The Russo Brothers will also produce under their new AGBO banner, along with AGBO’s Mike Larocca.
Production will start in September.
“Chadwick Boseman’s razor-sharp instincts and undeniable charisma captivated millions of people around the world in Black Panther, and Joe and Anthony Russo have breathed a new energy into the action genre with films like Avengers: Infinity War. Their unique and intelligent approach to filmmaking is anything but formulaic, and with Brian Kirk at the helm directing, this film promises to go beyond the typical popcorn fare,” said Adam Fogelson, STXFilms chairman.
Source: Shadow & Act
As we reported last month, Tales from the Hood is getting a sequel!
In an age where filmmakers (black filmmakers, in particular) are using the horror genre as a conduit to discuss racial issues, it, of course, is fitting to see a sequel for the film.
Now, fast forward a few weeks later, and we have a trailer!
The duo behind the first film, Rusty Cundieff and Darin Scott, is back for this entry. Spike Lee is an executive producer.
The official description, per Bloody Disgusting, reads: Tales from the Hood 2 introduces the audience to four new dreadful short tales, that follow the original film’s cult classic roots. Sparked with both humor and terror, this brand new movie is said to be filled with even more gritty social commentary and cultural subtext that will provoke and haunt viewers, while putting them on the edge of their seats. Keith David now stars as Mr. Simms, to tell bloodcurdling stories about lust, greed, pride and politics through tales with demonic dolls, possessed psychics, vengeful vixens and historical ghosts. Mr. Simms’s haunting stories will make you laugh…while you scream.
The film will be released via Universal 1440 Entertainment on Blu-ray, DVD, digital and on-demand on October 2. It will have a world premiere Friday, July 13, at Fantastic Fest in Montreal.
Watch the trailer below:
Source: Shadow & Act
If you were confused as to why Desus and Mero were quickly put off the air on Viceland after announcing their new deal with Showtime, we’ve got answers.
In a new interview with Bossip, the duo is spilling all — from Viceland ending their contract early to feeling undervalued at the network.
“Vice has us for two more months….we did not leave Vice, Vice ended our contract. They were in their feelings because we were leaving,” Desus said. He continued, “We could still be doing the show, and it bothers me because now people are tagging us like ‘do this, do this, what would your reactions be for this?’ and I’m like, ‘yo wow, what would my reaction be?’” Desus said.
He continued, “Viceland wanted 160 episodes a year. We have no writers, it’s literally me and Mero talking to one another every day. If you want us to do this for 160 episodes, pay us 160 million dollars—otherwise, we would have killed each other. We were carrying that network on our back, and we felt the weight. They were talking about, ‘do not take the weeks off because we don’t get ratings,’ and it’s like, ‘Yo, we’re just two people. The channel wanted us to die for this f**king network. We’re also the highest-rated show on the network; put some respect on our name; have someone come massage my feet.” Mero added, “And we are not divas, we’re flexible dudes. They kinda undervalued us a little bit.”
They are also reassuring fans they won’t be left in the dark with the move to Showtime.
“Every time someone complains about the price, I think of myself. It doesn’t bother us, it’s just when people are negative and like, ‘yo, you guys sold out.’ You’re still gonna get the show you want, and it’s gonna be like $5.99. Relax,” Desus said.
“It’s not like we ran off on the plug. The very fact that we’re going to Showtime means that the show is going to get bigger and better. It’s gonna be on a bigger scale, bigger budget, more exposure, more likeliness to win a f**king Emmy,” added Mero.
You can read the full report over at Bossip.
SOurce; Shadow & Act, Bossip
SiriusXM today announced that comedian Nathaniel “Earthquake” Stroman will host a new program on Kevin Hart and Lionsgate’s exclusive channel, Laugh Out Loud Radio. The comedic talk show will premiere on channel 96 starting July 16 and air weekdays from 1:00 – 3:00pm PT / 4:00 – 6:00pm ET.
Comedian Earthquake, known by his fans as “Quake,” is beloved in the stand-up comedy arena. Known for years as “The Comedian’s Favorite Comedian,” his numerous television appearances on HBO, Comedy Central, BET, Showtime, and the late-night talk show circuit have won him a loyal fan base. Chosen by Whoopi Goldberg for a stand-up comedy segment of The View, Earthquake has secured a place in the heart of comedy lovers across race, culture, or social status. His comedic brand, unique delivery, and bankable common-sense rhetoric is now going to be unleashed on SiriusXM with a daily radio show.
Broadcast live from Los Angeles, Quake’s House will feature the comedian at his most authentic, and will also showcase regular friends of the show and recurring segments. In addition, Earthquake will talk with celebrity guests and some of the funniest emerging comics. From hilarious “Mancave” revelations to his on-air Fantasy Football updates to All Women Wednesdays, Quake’s signature humor will be on full display.
“His name is Earthquake for a reason,” said Jack Vaughn, SiriusXM’s Senior Vice President of Comedy Programming. “He’ll hold nothing back on his new SiriusXM show, talking directly with subscribers from his self-described ‘mancave,’ as he continues to entertain millions with his refreshing take on life.”
“This is a perfect move for me,” said Earthquake. “The show will have awesome energy and will set the bar high for comedy. I’ve always had a great time at SiriusXM Radio and I’m glad to be back. I can’t wait to see the magic we make when this show takes on a life of its own.”
Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Radio launched exclusively on SiriusXM channel 96 in February. In addition to a regular show, Straight from The Hart, hosted by the megastar with co-hosts Plastic Cup Boyz, the channel features programming personally curated by Hart and the Laugh Out Loud team. Laugh Out Loud, launched in 2017, is the comedy brand and multi-platform network founded by Hart in partnership with Lionsgate.
SiriusXM subscribers can listen to Quake’s House on channel 96, and those with streaming access can hear the programming on a wide variety of connected devices including smart TVs, Amazon Alexa devices, Apple TV, Sony PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. Go to www.SiriusXM.com/AtHome to learn more.
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today the new unscripted series “Mind Your Business with Mahisha,” featuring Curls CEO and Creator, Mahisha Dellinger, helping female entrepreneurs take their business to the next level, is set to premiere on Saturday, August 11 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
The hour-long series will follow OWN’s award-winning reality series “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” (9 p.m. ET/PT) for an all-female led Saturday night lineup. OWN continues to top Saturday nights as the #1 network on all of TV for African American women.
Mahisha Dellinger survived the streets of South Sacramento, turning a creative idea into the multi-million-dollar hair company, Curls, a family of organic hair care products targeted for women embracing their natural textures. Now, in “Mind Your Business with Mahisha,” she is taking on a whole new challenge: helping other female entrepreneurs live out their dreams and take their small businesses to greater heights. In each standalone episode, Mahisha meets with entrepreneurs and guides them with inspiration and a little bit of tough love. She tests their passion and determination while demanding that they give it their all – just like she did – in order to reach their goals.
This series will feature successful businesswomen including: Gloria Williams, Founder and CEO of Footnanny pedicure products and known as Oprah’s personal pedicurist; Mehgan James (“Bad Girls Club”), owner of 800 West clothing line; Lia Diaz, owner of The Girl Cave, a three-store chain of beauty bars and beauty supplies in Southern California; and Chef Shalamar Lane, owner of My Father’s BBQ, a family run BBQ restaurant in Carson, California.
“Mind Your Business with Mahisha” is produced by Irwin Entertainment. Executive produced by John Irwin, Jenn Duncan and Damian Sullivan.
Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service, will bring together 47 comedians from 13 regions in an unprecedented stand-up comedy event series premiering in 2019. Each comedian will perform a half-hour stand-up special, some of which will be recorded at the upcoming Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, with sets also being taped in Brazil, Mexico, India, Germany and The Netherlands. All episodes will be released at once.
The groundbreaking event series (title to be announced) will feature a range of stand-up specials from comedians diverse in style, gender, and ethnicity and will tape in seven languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Dutch, German and English). Stand-up fans around the world can celebrate as they discover their new favorite comedians, with all episodes launching at once.
“Few things are better than discovering a new comedian you love,” said Lisa Nishimura, VP, Original Documentary and Comedy, Netflix. “With this event, we’re creating a true comedy festival experience for our members where they can scour the globe from home to find some of the freshest voices in comedy.”
The roster of stand-up comedians that will record at this year’s Just for Laughs from July 24 – July 29 in Montreal, is listed below:
United States
Chris D’Elia
Neal Brennan
Nicole Byer
Nick Swardson
United Kingdom
Nish Kumar
Joel Dommett
Mae Martin
Ellie Taylor
France
Shirley Souagnon
Jason Brokerss
Two additional comedians to be announced
Africa
Loyiso Gola
Loyiso Madinga
Tumi Morake
Riaad Moosa
Australia
Joel Creasey
Nazeem Hussain
New Zealand
Urzila Carlson
Cal Wilson
Canada
Adib Alkhalidey
François Bellefeuille
Ivan Decker
Louis-José Houde
Katherine Levac
Dave Merheje
Deanne Smith
K. Trevor Wilson
Middle East
Moayad Alnefaie
Adi Khalefa
Rawsan Hallak
Ibraheem Alkhairallah
BET Digital’s three-part original documentary “VIXEN” will examine the rise and fall of the Vixen Era through exclusive, candid interviews with directors, artists, journalists and – of course- the vixens themselves. “VIXEN” looks at the evolution of hip-hop during a tumultuous time in history, through the lens of the video models whose experiences reflect the highs and lows of the culture and features exclusive interviews with Melyssa Ford, Karrine Steffans, Gloria Velez, Buffie The Body, Lola Monroe, Yaris Sanchez, Stephanie Santiago and Rosa Acosta.
Interviews with Director X, Dr. Teeth, Sha Money XL, Amina Diop, Datwon Thomas, Kim Osorio, Adelle Henderson and more are also featured in the docuseries.
Watch the trailer below;