Spike Lee In Talks To Direct Film On Marvel Superhero Known As ‘Nightwatch’!
Spike Lee is circling Sony’s Marvel film, Nightwatch as the potential director of a script which would be penned by Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker.
Nighwatch is a black scientist in the Spider-Man comics introduced first in 1993.
Here’s the official character description from Marvel:
Over ten years ago, Dr. Kevin Trench was attacked by the invisible Camouflage Cadre and rescued by a man called Nightwatch, who drove the Cadre back through a time portal before dying. Trench discovered his rescuer was an older version of himself. When his lover Ashley Croix’s plane was hijacked by A.I.M., Trench donned the Nightwatch’s super-powered battle-suit and confronted the hijackers, but the inexperienced Trench triggered an explosion, killing all aboard. Guilt-stricken, Trench exiled himself and the apparently indestructible battle-suit to a remote island. Croix, who had changed planes at the last minute, later married industrialist Damon Morelle and bore his son, Nolan, whose illness required frequent skin grafts. Financed by the secretive cabal Fold, Morelle initiated Project: Sharkskin to cure Nolan via a nano-technological bodysuit, destined to become Nightwatch’s battle-suit.
This is a part of the Marvel roster that Sony is developing, described to be “adjacent to the MCU.” The Venom film is out later this year and the Gina Prince-Bythewood-directed Silver & Black is in development.
Lee is currently in production on Black Klansman, produced by Jordan Peele
Hip Hop Artists Pitbull Joins STX’s Animated ‘UglyDolls’ Franchise Film
STX Entertainment has announced that the singer Pitbull is joining its UglyDolls franchise and will write and perform a song for the studio’s animated film.
Pitbull will also voice talent to one of the film’s key characters. STX also said Tuesday that it is also eyeing involvement from the entertainer for the studio’s expansive franchise plans across its other platforms where spinoff UglyDoll projects are in development at STXtv, STXdigital and STXsurreal VR.
“Pitbull’s amazing musical creativity and magnetic personality have captivated millions of adoring fans around the world,” Adam Fogelson, chairman of STXfilms, said. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with him, and look forward to showcasing his singular talent as we build the UglyDolls franchise.”
STXfilms will release “UglyDolls” in 2019 as a launch vehicle for the franchise. It has not yet set a specific date.
“It’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to work alongside the STX team and be involved with UglyDolls,” Pitbull said. “The brand takes a fun approach to universal messages no matter color, culture or creed. These are themes I am passionate about, and our team is very excited about this partnership.”
Variety first reported in 2015 that STX had launched a family and animation division with the “UglyDoll” movie as its first project in a deal with Pretty Ugly LLC, the toy company behind the critters. The toys subvert the idea of ugly by turning the adjective into a positive, and include characters such as Wage, Babo, Ice-Bat and Wedgehead.
Hulu Acquires ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ Starring Kerry Washington And Reese Witherspoon
After a competitive bidding war that ignited Hollywood, Hulu has obtained the rights to develop Little Fires Everywhere, the highly-anticipated limited series from Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller, as a Hulu Original Series. The project will be produced by Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, Washington’s Simpson Street and ABC Signature Studios, and will join Hulu’s award-winning slate of original programming. Witherspoon and Washington will also star as leads in the series. Liz Tigelaar (“Life Unexpected,” “Casual”) will write and serve as showrunner and executive producer.
“Celeste wove a beautiful, riveting story that spoke to all of us, and when we heard the vision Reese, Kerry and Liz have for the series, we knew immediately that we had to bring it to Hulu,” said Hulu Chief Content Officer Joel Stillerman. “We’re honored to bring this powerful story to the screen with Hello Sunshine, in their first studio project. This is exactly the type of compelling and culturally relevant content that embodies our Hulu Originals brand.”
“At Hello Sunshine, we strive to shine a light on female-driven stories that are rooted in inspiration, emotion and truth – all of which form the bedrock of Celeste Ng’s ingenious work,” says Witherspoon. “Hulu has a rich history of transforming groundbreaking literature into groundbreaking television, and we are confident that their talented team will use this story to spur a long-overdue dialogue around race, class, and what it means to be a mother. With Kerry Washington, Liz Tigelaar and now Hulu, Hello Sunshine has brought together a dream lineup of creative collaborators, and we are privileged and humbled to have the opportunity to work with them to bring this important project to life.”
“As producers, we at Simpson Street are so proud to be part of this team to tell this extraordinary story inspired by Celeste Ng’s phenomenal novel and we are thrilled to be embarking on this journey with Hulu,” stated Washington. “As an actress, I am floored to have the opportunity to work alongside Reese Witherspoon exploring the rich themes of this story playing these dynamic characters.”
“We’re thrilled to be in business with these incredible women, each a powerhouse in her own right. This is another example of an exciting partnership for ABC Signature as we continue to build our production slate in the streaming space. We’re excited to have another project with our friends at Hulu, which is an ideal home for this project,” said Patrick Moran, President, ABC Studios/ABC Signature.
Hello Sunshine, in its first venture as a studio, and ABC Signature will serve as studio co-production partners on the project. Hello Sunshine is responsible for leading creative on the project.
“Little Fires Everywhere” was discovered by Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter prior to its publication. Reese chose the book as her September 2017 book club pick; it became an instant bestseller and has remained on countless top ten lists since its publication.
Reese Witherspoon then brought the book to Kerry Washington, and together they approached Liz Tigelaar to adapt and showrun the limited series.
Hello Sunshine and Simpson Street then approached ABC Signature to bring them into the fold, and Hello Sunshine and ABC Signature became studio co-production partners on the project.
Showrunner Liz Tigelaar most recently served as executive producer and showrunner of the Hulu Original Series Casual, which earned Hulu its first Golden Globe nomination. She will executive produce alongside Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine, and Kerry Washington for Simpson Street, with Pilar Savone overseeing the project for their shingle. Ng will serve as producer.
Based on the New York Times Best Seller of the same name, Little Fires Everywhere follows the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives. The story explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger in believing that following the rules can avert disaster.
The series will join a string of high-profile original series on Hulu, including Catch-22, a six-part limited series from Director, Executive Producer and Star, George Clooney based on the seminal novel of the same name; Castle Rock, Hulu’s second project from J.J. Abrams and Stephen King following the success of 11.22.63 that will premiere later this summer; the multi Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning drama, The Handmaid’s Tale; The First, the latest project from Award-winning Creator Beau Willimon, with Academy Award Winner Sean Penn in his first starring TV role; and The Looming Tower, a limited series based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning expose by Lawrence Wright from Academy Award-nominated Writer Dan Futterman and Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning Director Alex Gibney that is now streaming on Hulu.
Comedian Tone Bell Lands Lead Role In CBS Comedy Titled ‘Fam’!
Tone Bell has been cast in a lead role in the CBS comedy pilot “Fam.”
In the multi-camera comedy, a woman’s dreams of an upstanding life with her new fiancé and his upstanding family are dashed when her younger train wreck half-sister comes to live with her to escape their train wreck of a father.
Bell will play Jay, a sophisticated NYU history professor who comes from old money, but is refreshingly unaffected and down-to-earth despite his refined background. Deeply in love with Clementine (Nina Dobrev), he proposes to her, much to the delight of his parents, who think Clem is a real catch. But he learns that Clem has not been completely honest about a few key elements in her life, including the fact that her father isn’t actually dead.
In addition to Bell and Dobrev, Odessa Adlon, Brian Stokes Mitchel, and Sheryl Lee Ralph will also star in the pilot.
Bell is also a stand up comedian will shoot his first one hour standup special for Showtime this spring. He most recently starred in the Netflix multi-cam “Disjointed.” He also made multiple appearances on the CBS comedy “9JKL” and starred in the NBC comedy “Truth Be Told.” His other television credits include “The Flash,” “Bad Judge,” and “Whitney.”
He is repped by CAA, Black Box Management, and Hansen Jacobson.
Corinne Kingsbury will write and executive produce “Fam.” Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor, and Wendi Trilling will also executive produce. CBS Television Studios will produce with Kapital Entertainment. Scott Ellis will serve as director and executive producer of the pilot.
Source: Variety
Gabrielle Dennis Will Play Whitney Houston In BET’s ‘The Bobby Brown Story’
Gabrielle Dennis has been selected to play Whitney Houston in BET’s two-part The Bobby Brown Story, the follow-up to the network’s highly-successful The New Edition Story.
She joins Woody McClain as Brown, alongside Mekhi Phifer, Lil Rel Howery, T.K. Carter, Laz Alonso, Lance Gross, Alyssa Goss and Sandi McCree.
According to Deadline, who first reported the news, the film “will showcase their successes and struggles during their turbulent relationship.”
The Bobby Brown Story will pick up where the New Edition mini left off. It will chronicle the talented but troubled singer’s exit from the popular ’80s boy band through his solo success, his affair with Janet Jackson and tabloid-fodder marriage to pop icon Whitney Houston. Spanning 30 years of Brown’s life, the new project follows his story from the hard streets of Roxbury, where he turned to a life of drug dealing before being given the chance to prove himself as a solo artist.
Dennis, who was a series regular on Fox’s Rosewood, will star as villainess Tilda Johnson in Luke Cage Season 2.
Source: Deadline, Shadow & Act
On This Day In Comedy… In 1959 Comedienne And Actress Luenell Campbell Was Born!
On this day in comedy on March 12, 1959, Comedienne, Actress, Luenell Campbell (“Luenell”) was born in Tolette, Arkansas
Luenell cut her comedy teeth in Oakland, California in clubs like The End Zone and Sweet Jimmies. During the Black Comedy Boom of the early 90s she was seen on local cable station, KSBT on Soul Beat, an interview show and received standup television exposure with hilarious appearances on BET’s Comic View. She toured internationally entertaining troops and domestically cracking up audiences from coast to coast.
National notoriety was gained when Luenell toured twice with Katt Williams, the latter being the third largest comedy tour of 2006 (behind Larry the Cable Guy and Dane Cook). She was also featured in the concert film of that tour, American Hustle. Her breakthrough film role had her mistaken for the real thing and not an actress. That too real for the audience part was as girlfriend to Sacha Baron Cohen in the smash hit, Borat. However, there were other films: So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), The Rock (1996), Never Die Alone (2004), Spring Breakdown (2009), All About Steve (2009), Head Case (2009), Hey Luenell (2009 TV movie), 35 and Ticking (2011) and Budz House (2011).
Luenell has the distinction of being seen in 3 films that made it to #1 at the box office. The year was 2012 and the movies were Think Like A Man, the animated Hotel Transylvania (where she was heard) and Taken 2, with old tough guy, Liam Neeson. That same year she also appeared in That’s My Boy, C’Mon Man and Mac & Devin Go To High School.
Television has also been a friend to Luenell. She had roles in Nash Bridges, The Tracy Morgan Show, The Tony Rock Project, Californication, The Boondocks, Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival, Funny or Die Presents, the Middle, Breaking In, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Comedy Underground.
Luenell has toured extensively as a top headliner and appeared prominently on Snoop Dog’s Bad Girls of Comedy and Stand up In Stilettos.
Bad Boy’s Legendary Rapper Craig Mack Passes Away At 46
Craig Mack, the Long Island rapper who found fame on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records in the mid-1990s, has died at age 46, his producer confirmed to the Daily News.
Mack — who launched to hip-hop acclaim with the platinum hit “Flava in Ya Ear” in 1994 before being overshadowed by fellow artists such as the Notorious B.I.G. — died of heart failure at a hospital near his Walterboro, S.C., home Monday.
“God bless my friend. He was a good friend of mine,” said Alvin Toney, who produced Mack’s debut album “Project: Funk Da World” and his “Get Down Remix.”
Toney saw his dear friend a final time last week.
He visited the former emcee at the Overcomer Ministry church he attends in Walterboro to film a documentary about Mack, and his decision to pass on fame for a life of deep religious conviction.
“Nobody got to understand his story,” Toney said. “I wanted the world to know the talent he had. It was something I wanted people to enjoy, but it was cut short because he was very religious and wanted to go to church.”
Tony said Mack told him during his visit that he had been ill for some time and knew he wouldn’t live long.
“He was prepared for whatever comes, to go home to the Lord,” Toney said. “He was prepared to do that. He wasn’t scared. He was ready.”
Mack is survived by his wife and two children, both adults, Toney said.
As a boy, the Suffolk County native dreamed of making it big like LL Cool J and Run DMC, according to a New York Times profile of Mack. He began penning his own lyrics at age 12.
Mack’s career shined bright with the help of Diddy, then known under the pseudonym Puffy.
The Bad Boy Entertainment founder met the aspiring artist at the Manhattan club Mecca and promised to sign him if he could freestyle to Mary J. Blige. Mack did not disappoint.
Soon, Mack’s star-studded hit, “Flava In Ya Ear,” was born. The song went on to earn a Grammy nomination for best rap solo but lost to Queen Latifah’s “Latifah’s Had it Up 2 Here.”
A remix to the song featured Diddy’s other up-and-coming stars, including Brooklyn-born rapper Christopher Wallace, known as Biggie Smalls or the Notorious B.I.G. — who was largely responsible for bringing the record label to fame with his hit 1994 album “Ready to Die.”
At the time, Diddy declared both Biggie Smalls and Mack the foundation of Bad Boy Entertainment.
“This is my life here,” Diddy said, gesturing to Mack and Biggie Smalls during an interview with MTV Raps. “We all need each other to live and breathe. That’s the way we treat each other.”
Mack departed the label in 1995, hoping to strike out on his own, but further fame eluded him.
He released “Operation: Get Down,” in 1997 under the Volcano Entertainment label, but it failed to produce a hit single.
Mack appeared in the music video for Diddy’s 2002 hit “I Need a Girl Part 1,” but he was missing when Diddy reunited his Bad Boy crew for the 2015 BET Awards, having disappeared from the limelight to pursue his faith at a troubled South Carolina church.
A bizarre 2012 video of the church’s self-proclaimed prophet, Ralph Gordon Stair, shows the world the famed rapper was still around — and in his congregation.
“Craig Mack is dead. We have somebody who used to be Craig Mack. He didn’t join anything. God joined him,” said Stair, who was arrested on sexual assault charges in December 2017.
Stair gave the man, who identified himself as Mack, the chance to speak for himself.
“What did you used to do,” the broadcast preacher asked.
“Wickedness,” Mack said.
“And what are you doing now,” Stair continued.
“Righteousness,” Mack replied before bouncing up and down with his hands in the air.
In a later video, Mack could be seen picking up the microphone to freestyle.
A congregant who left Stair’s church after the Christian preacher was busted due to years of mounting rape and molestation accusations, said Mack attended the house of worship up until his death.
The former parishioner, who asked to not be identified, told The News that Mack “identified with the church and was associated with it,” but did not live in its rural compound believed to be home to dozens of followers.
Diddy paid tribute to Mack on Tuesday with a statement remembering his former colleague.
“Craig Mack, you were the first artist to release music on Bad Boy and gave us our first hit,” he began. “You always followed your heart and you had an energy that was out of this world. You believed in me and you believed in Bad Boy. I will never forget what you did for hip-hop. You inspired me, and I will continue to try to keep inspiring others. We will always love you.”
Many other hip hop stars honored Mack as well, including LL Cool J, who was featured on a popular remix of “Flava In Ya Ear.”
“Rest in power Craig,” he tweeted. “May the almighty embrace your soul & lift up your family and friends. it was a pleasure to know you & rock with you. You $tepped away from the game & did it your way.. I always respected that.”
Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex, who shared Mack’s hits on the NYC station, wrote on Instagram, “Rest In Peace! Good brother.”
And “Just A Friend” rapper Biz Markie, who, like Mack, got his start on Long Island, also paid homage.
“R.I.P TO MY MAIN MAN CRAIG MACK ANOTHER GREAT ONE GONE,” he wrote on Instagram.
SOurce: NY Daily News
Jay-Z And Beyonce Announce ‘On the Run II’ Stadium Tour Dates
Jay-Z and Beyonce announced dates for their “On the Run II” stadium tour. Kicking off Wednesday, June 6 in Cardiff, UK, the international outing will stop in 15 cities across the UK and Europe, with the 21-date North American leg beginning July 25 in Cleveland. The full itinerary can be found below.
The tour is presented by Live Nation Global Touring in association with Beyonce’s Parkwood Entertainment and Jay’s Roc Nation. Tickets will go on sale to the general public starting Monday, March 19 at LiveNation.com and “all usual outlets,” according to a press release announcing the tour. On-sale dates and times vary (full on-sale schedule provided below).
News of the tour slipped out last week when Beyonce’s Facebook and Ticketmaster pages announced a date for the tour, on July 30 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field — and then both posts were quickly deleted. Complex captured a screen shot of the Facebook page.
The pair last toured together in 2014 for the first “On the Run” tour, supporting her self-titled 2013 album and Jay’s “Magna Carta Holy Grail.” Jay joined Beyonce onstage in New Jersey for the final date of her “Lemonade” tour in September 2016; Kendrick Lamar guested at that show as well, and DJ Khaled was the opening act. Just last week, Khaled dropped the single “Top Off,” which features Jay and Beyonce (and a little bit of Future). The pair recently released a video for “Family Feud,” their collaboration from Jay’s latest album, “4:44,” which was directed by Ava DuVernay, whose latest film “A Wrinkle in Time” hit theaters last week.
Citi is the official credit card for the OTR II tour and cardmembers will have a pre-sale opportunity for show dates in the United States, Europe and the UK. For performances going on sale on March 19 in the US and Europe, Citi cardmembers may purchase tickets beginning March 14 at noon through March 17 at 5pm. For concerts in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Poland, Citi cardmembers may access tickets starting March 19 at noon through March 22 at 5pm prior to the general on-sale on March 23. Beginning March 14 at 9am in North America and 10am in the UK and Europe (all times local), members of the Beyhive and Tidal subscribers will have a pre-sale opportunity for all dates.
OTR II UK/EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:
June 06 Cardiff, UK Principality Stadium On sale March 23
June 09 Glasgow, UK Hampden Park On sale March 23
June 13 Manchester, UK Etihad Stadium On sale March 23
June 15 London, UK London Stadium On sale March 23
June 19 Amsterdam, NL Amsterdam Arena On sale March 19
June 23 Copenhagen, DK Parken Stadium On sale March 19
June 25 Stockholm, SW Friends Arena On sale March 23
June 28 Berlin, DE Olympiastadion On sale March 19
June 30 Warsaw, PL Stadion Narodowy On sale March 23
July 03 Cologne, DE RheinEnergieStadion On sale March 19
July 06 Milan, IT San Siro On sale March 19
July 08 Rome, IT Stadio Olimpico On sale March 19
July 11 Barcelona, ES Olympic Stadium On sale March 19
July 14 Paris, FR Stade de France On sale March 19
July 17 Nice, FR Allianz Riviera On sale March 19
OTR II NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:
July 25 Cleveland, OH FirstEnergy Stadium On sale March 19
July 28 Washington, DC FedEx Field On sale March 19
July 30 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field On sale March 19
Aug. 02 E. Rutherford, NJ MetLife Stadium On sale March 19
Aug. 05 Boston, MA Gillette Stadium On sale March 19
Aug. 08 Minneapolis, MN US Bank Stadium On sale March 19
Aug. 10 Chicago, IL Soldier Field On sale March 19
Aug. 13 Detroit, MI Ford Field On sale March 19
Aug. 18 Buffalo, NY New Era Field On sale March 19
Aug. 23 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt Stadium On sale March 19
Aug. 25 Atlanta, GA Mercedes Benz Stadium On sale March 19
Aug. 29 Orlando, FL Camping World Stadium On sale March 19
Aug. 31 Miami, FL Hard Rock Stadium On sale March 19
Sept. 11 Arlington, TX AT&T Stadium On sale March 19
Sept. 13 New Orleans, LA Mercedes-Benz Superdome On sale March 19
Sept. 15 Houston, TX NRG Stadium On sale March 19
Sept. 19 Phoenix, AZ University of Phoenix Stadium On sale March 19
Sept. 22 Los Angeles, CA Rose Bowl On sale March 19
Sept. 27 San Diego, CA SDCCU Stadium On sale March 19
Sept. 29 Santa Clara, CA Levi’s Stadium On sale March 19
Paul Rodriguez To Release New Comedy Special Titled ‘Here & Wow’ By Comedy Dynamics
Paul Rodriguez’s new comedy special The Here & Wow will be released by Comedy Dynamics on May 1, 2018 premiering on Amazon, Comcast, DIRECTV, AT&T, DISH, iTunes, Charter, Google Play and many other platforms. The album will be released on May 4, 3018 on all digital and physical audio retailers.
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, veteran comedian Paul Rodriguez hits the stage to give you his perspectives on life. From being peer pressured into believing in God to claiming to be the village idiot, Paul will make you sit back and laugh! The special was taped in downtown Los Angeles at the Palace Theater.
“One city at a time for over 30 years, I’ve been bringing laughter all across this country, and all around the world. Jokes and stories bring us together, so I’m thrilled to be able to release this special to my fans and do just that,” said comedian Paul Rodriguez.
One of the most influential Hispanic comedians today, Paul Rodriguez has appeared in countless movies and television shows over the years, from The Original Latin Kings of Comedy to Blood Work with Clint Eastwood, Rat Race, Ali and more. He was named one of Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time, and is also known for his humanitarian work.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1990 ‘House Party’ Was Released By New Line Cinemas
On this day in comedy on March 9, 1990, House Party was released by New Line Cinema
Written and directed by Harvard alumni, Reginald Hudlin and based on his award-winning student film, House Party stars rappers, Kid and Play as two buddies out for a good time. That prospect becomes reality when Play announces his parents are leaving for a while and he’s going to throw a party at the house. His friend Bilal (Martin Lawrence) will be the DJ and the only thing that can stop them is Kid’s Pops (Robin Harris), who has banned him from going out and being a parent himself he just might make trouble. The only other thing is a threesome of thugs out to get Kid which is definitely trouble.
Well, Kid gets past his Pops and sneaks out. Then he gets past the thugs, who don’t get past the cops and get arrested several times while trying to get Kid, who is busy avoiding all manners of obstacles to get to the party. When he finally makes it there it’s crackin. After showing off his dance moves with Play, Kid hooks up with Sharane (A. J. Johnson), but really wants to be with Sydney (Tisha Campbell). As in most movies the love situation works itself out so well that Kid and Campbell are about to have sex, but his condom is too old and besides he’s got to get going. Campbell’s parents come home and Kid is back on the streets running to avoid trouble. Too late. The cops catch him and throw him in jail. His friends bail him out and he sneaks into his house just in time for Pops to catch him and whoop his butt with a belt.
House Party is a comedy classic. Besides great music provided by Marcus Miller and Lenny White, the film was a critical and box office success. On a budget of $2.5 million the film grossed $26,385,627. It spawned four sequels (two theatrical, two straight to DVD) and the soundtrack released on Motown Records was also a hit reaching #20 on the Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Produced by Reginald’s brother, Warrington Hudlin and partner, Gerald T. Olsen, House Party featured the talents of Paul Anthony, Bow-Legged Lou and B-Fine (from Full Force), Darryl “Chill” Mitchell, Kelly Jo Minter, BeBe Drake, George Clinton and John Witherspoon.
House Party was the last film appearance of pivotal and influential standup comedian, Robin Harris, who passed away nine days after its release.
