Spike Lee Introduces New Cast Of New Netflix Series ‘She’s Gotta Have It’!
SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT, Tracy Camilla Johns, Spike Lee, 1986
Let the speculation begin…
Spike Lee and Netflix have teamed up to develop a TV series based on Spike’s feature film debut, “She’s Gotta Have It.” Details on the adaptation (for example, whether it’ll tell the exact same story the film did, with the same characters, as well as who Spike might be considering for his cast, etc) weren’t made public at the time of the announcement 3 weeks ago, and remain underwraps.
What we do know for sure is that it’ll be a half-hour TV series based on Lee’s film, which, by the way, celebrates its 30th year in release this year (it initially opened on August 8, 1986).
Netflix has ordered a 10-episode series which Spike will also direct and serve as an executive producer, along with his producer-wife Tonya Lewis Lee.
In a statement from Spike Lee about the Netflix pickup, he said the following:
“SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT Has A Very Special Place In My Heart. We Shot This Film In 12 Days (2 Six Day Weeks) Way Back In The Back Back Of The Hot Summer Of 1985 For A Mere Total of $175,000. Funds That We Begged, Borrowed and Whatnot To Get That Money. This Is The 1st Official Spike Lee Feature Film Joint And Everything That We Have Been Blessed With In This Tough Business Of Film All Have Been Due To SGHI. Now With The Passing (August 8th) Of The 30th Anniversary, It’s A Gift That Keeps On Giving. We Are Getting An Opportunity To Revisit These Memorable Characters Who Will Still Be Relevant And Avant Garde 3 Decades Later. With All That Said It Was My Wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, Producer In Her Own Right,Who Had The Vision To Take My Film From The Big Screen And Turn It Into An Episodic Series. It Had Not Occurred To Me At All. Tonya Saw It Plain As Day. I Didn’t. We Are Hyped That NETFLIX Is Onboard With This Vision As Nola Darling, Mars Blackmon, Jamie Overstreet And Greer Childs DO DA DAMN THANG Now, Today In Da Republic Of Brooklyn, New York.”
In the case of who will be cast to play the lead in the series, this could very well be a career changer for the actress Spike Lee selects to play Nola Darling; especially if she’s an up-and-comer, or an entirely new face, instead of an already established actress. And frankly, I hope he goes with a fresh face.
Nola Darling is the young, self-assured Brooklynite, juggling 3 very different boyfriends, who, maybe, if collected into one body, will represent her ideal mate. But Nola doesn’t want to commit to any of her men, cherishing her personal freedom, even as their relationships with Nola grow, and each man wants her for himself.
So what actress (likely between the ages of 25 and 35) do you think can exude Nola’s complexities?
Spike Lee did say, 20+ years ago, that he wrote the film with Tracy Camila Johns in mind as Nola. So, as I previously suggested, one can only assume that, in adapting the film into a Netflix series, he may have already had an actress in mind for the part. In fact, as I added, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if he’d already approached her (whoever she is) about it, before the announcement of the Netflix pickup was even made – especially with filming already apparently underway (October 7 was day one, according to another post on Spike’s Instagram page), per the casting call that was published on this blog over a week ago.
Of course there are also the 3 men in her life, assuming the story remains the same, except set in the present-day: Mars Blackmon, Jamie Overstreet and Greer Childs; roles for 3 (black?) actors to play.
On the heels of the New York open casting call, the first announced cast attachment came in the form of “Hamilton” actor Anthony Ramos. The Puerto Rican actor, who originated the roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton’s eldest son, in the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” last year, has been cast to play “da original b-boy” sneakerhead himself, Mars Blackmon – the role Spike Lee played in the 1986 movie.
Per the release, Blackmon is still a sneakerhead in the series, who still wears Air Jordans, but he has taken his b-boy-ness to the web, as a social-media phenomenon.
As for the rest of the cast, this morning, Spike Lee shared the below photo on his Instagram page with the caption: “SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT Cast And Writers Dinner Last Night At Da SOHO House. Thank You Tara, Layne And Aja -Netflix Black Gurl Magic.”
Unfortunately, he didn’t identify any of the actors in the photo, and what roles they will be playing. With filming underway, I assume this photo includes the entire starring/key cast and writing staff, but one can only obviously speculate. Not every person shown here may be a cast member or writer. And, there might be cast members and writers not in the photo.
So this is all just speculation on my part. But it’s fun, isn’t it? So let’s see what we can say with some certainty.
Those that I can identify are Santana Caress Benitez (far left, standing, rear row), Alano Miller (third from the left in the rear), Joie Lee & Cinqué Lee (Spike’s siblings, who I assume are writers on the series, but they also act, so they may be cast members as well; Joie is 5th from the left in the rear, and Cinqué is 2nd from the left in the front row, seated), Lemon Andersen (seated in the front row, next to Cinqué – on his right), Ilfenesh Hadera (standing, far right), Anthony Ramos (2nd from the right, in the second row, seated), and next to him (on his right), I believe that’s DeWanda Wise (who is married to Alano Miller, by the way; so both of them, or maybe just one of them might be in the series, and the other is there for support)!
As for what characters the actors are each playing, at this point, all we know with certainty is that Anthony Ramos is Mars Blackmon, as was previously announced.
So I need your help here folks, in identifying the other talents (cast and writers) you see in the below photo. I’m sure an official casting announcement is going to made soon enough, and once that happens, I’ll update this post. Until then, feel free to join me in some fun speculating…
Check out the photo Spike shared on Instagram this morning, below:
Source: Shadow & Act
Kimberly Elise Joins Bruce Willis In ‘Death Wish’ Remake!
Kimberly Elise
Kimberly Elise has joined the cast of MGM/Paramount’s “Death Wish” remake. Yes, “Death Wish” is being remade. It really shouldn’t be a surprise at this point, given how remake-happy Hollywood studios continue to be; maybe even more-so in recent years than ever before. MGM is especially *guilty* of this, mining its content library for titles to reboot/revive/remake/reimagining/etc. From “Ben-Hur,” to “The Thomas Crown Affair,” “RoboCop,” “Carrie,” “Poltergeist,” “WarGames,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “In the Heat of the Night,” and others.
A “Death Wish” remake is just a continuation of a trend.
Elise joins star Bruce Willis, who will play the role originated by the late Charles Bronson – Paul Keysey – in a remake that will be directed by Mr. Torture Porn himself, Eli Roth.
Kersey’s life, destroyed by a violent crime against his wife and daughter, takes the law into his own hands when the justice system fails him. It’s a relatively straightforward, no-holds-barred revenge/vigilante action-crime-drama. The original film, released in 1974, was loosely based on the 1972 novel “Death Wish” by Brian Garfield. It was a commercial hit, embraced by a public that was facing rising rates of crime during those years, who applauded Kersey’s vigilantism, and gave birth to a franchise for Bronson, who would star in 4 more “Death Wish” movies, released between 1982 and 1994; none of them could capture the magic of the first one, and each only got progressively worse.
Elise plays a Detective Jackson, one of the investigators looking into Kersey’s case.
Also in the cast is Mike Epps, who will play Dr. Chris Salgado, a playboy doctor and close friend of Paul Kersey.
Elisabeth Shue, Dean Norris and Vincent D’Onofrio round out the key cast.
Production is taking place in Montreal and Chicago for a 2017 release.
Elise can next be seen in Universal’s “Almost Christmas” directed by David E. Talbert in theaters November 11. Elise is repped by APA and Untitled Entertainment.
The original “Death Wish” franchise of films is available on various home video formats (DVD, Bluray, VOD, etc). The first one is actually streaming on Amazon Prime for those who are subscribers.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1972 Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids Premiered On CBS!
On this day in comedy on September 9, 1972 Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids premiered on CBS.
The Saturday morning cartoon favorite was created, produced and starred the voice of Bill Cosby. It was based on Cosby’s childhood memories. There were lessons to be learned in each episode and Cosby appeared in live action form and the top and bottom of each show to drive to pint home on the lessons. If that didn’t do it Fat Albert and his chums singing about the lesson in a junkyard with slapped together instruments as an additional recap should’ve done it.
The characters first appeared in Cosby’s standup act in the routine, “Buck, Buck” on his 1967 album, Revenge. The stories were so popular Cosby got together with animators, Ken Mundie and Amby Paliwoda for what he thought would be a onetime shot animated special for NBC, “Hey, Hey, hey, It’s Fat Albert” in 1969. Jazz great, Herbie Hancock wrote and performed the score. The special was a hit. However, the network felt it was too educational and declined the offer to place it in their Saturday morning line-up of shows. NBC was not attempting to smarten up kids on the weekends. Cosby and crew took their approach to CBS and they gave it a passing grade.
Apparently CBS was not only enamored by helping to develop young minds, but also by the colorful and vibrant characters. Fat Albert was the moral compass of the gang and was pretty athletic for an overweight kid. Mushmouth was an early example of a kid speaking Ebonics. Dumb Donald worn a stocking knit cap over his head, leaving only the eyes exposed and he wore it no matter what type of weather it was. Old Weird Harold had beady eyes. Rudy was sharp of dress, but dull of perception. It was usually his cockiness that got the gang into trouble. The rest were Bill, Cosby’s younger version and his brother Russell, who Bill was always trying to save from trouble and of course Bucky, who had an overbite.
Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids lasted 12 years on CBS. After its initial run it spent another season in first-run syndication and produced three holiday specials for Halloween, Christmas and Easter. In 1989 the series was rerun on NBC on Saturday mornings and on USA Network. It ranked #12 out of a list of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time and earned Cosby a Doctorate of Education. There was even talk about bring it back for future generations. This talk came from Cosby himself on Facebook in 2013, but then a year or so later circumstances from the past stepped into the Cosby universe and no other word was mentioned about this revival.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1940 Comedic Ventriloquist Willie Tyler Was Born!
On this day in comedy on September 8, 1940 Ventriloquist, Willie Tyler was born in Red Level, Alabama, 1940.
Raised in South East Detroit, Michigan Tyler got introduced to the public in 1972 on the NBC hit show, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. From that launching pad Tyler and his dummy Lester have worked in practically every medium. If you could watch it or hear it – they did it.
In the 80s they were big. Every sitcom needed a ventriloquist and his dummy to guest star otherwise you just can’t call yourself a real sitcom. Willie Tyler & Lester got it in. They appeared in “The Parent “Hood, “What’s Happening Now!!”, and “The Jeffersons”. They’ve been pitchmen for McDonalds and Toyota. They did game shows: “The Match Game” and “Family Feud”. They did variety shows: “The Flip Wilson Show”, “The Staler Brothers Show” and “The Hollywood Palace”. They served as host of the Saturday morning children’s anthology series, “The ABC Weekend Special”. The duo even managed to squeeze films into their schedule. Willie without Lester appeared in “Coming Home” with Jon Voight in 1978. He was also in “For Da Love of Money”.
You name it – they were on it: “The White Shadow”, “Pacific Blue” and “Frank McKlusky. Willie was himself at the BET Comedy Awards in 2004 and the first ventriloquist to appear on the Late Night with David Letterman on Ventriloquist Week (who did you expect?)
The ‘Power Rangers’ Debuts New Super-Powered Trailer!
Sassy teens turn into super sassy teens in the new teaser trailer for “Power Rangers,” released on Saturday.
In the film, from Lionsgate and Saban Films, five high school students named Zack, Kimberly, Billy, Trini and Jason become Power Rangers when they discover that their small town and the world are threatened by aliens.
The new teaser trailer shows the group before they have discovered their powers. They are all outcasts in their school. The Power Rangers suit starts to materialize just before the teaser cuts off.
The cast of teens includes Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Becky G and Ludi Lin. There are also some more familiar names involved like Bill Hader, Bryan Cranston and Elizabeth Banks.
In May, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said the studio may make as many as seven more “Power Rangers” movies.
“We are really, really excited about the ‘Power Rangers’ movie,” he said during a conference call with analysts. “We could see doing five or six or seven.”
Dean Israelite directs the film which is produced by Haim Saban, Brian Casentini, Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey. The script is written by John Gatins, Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney. The film features characters mostly from “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.”
“Power Rangers” will hit theaters March 24, 2017.
Source: Variety
Forest Whitaker Joins Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’!
Forest Whitaker has joined the cast of Marvel’s “Black Panther,” starring Chadwick Boseman.
Daniel Kaluuya and Florence Kasumba have also joined the cast.
The film, directed by “Creed” helmer Ryan Coogler, also stars Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, and Danai Gurira. Boseman will play T’Challa, the prince of the African nation of Wakanda, who must take over the throne after his father’s murder. Marvel unveiled the character in “Captain America: Civil War” in May before the standalone film bows on Feb. 16, 2018.
Whitaker will play the role of Zuri, an elder stateman in Wakanda. Kasumba will reprise her “Captain America: Civil War” role as Ayo, a member of the Dora Milaje. Kaluuya will play T’Challa confidant W’Kabi
Joe Robert Cole is co-penning the script with Coogler. Kevin Feige is producing the movie.
Whitaker has a busy fall schedule ahead of him with Paramount’s “Arrival,” directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, debuting next month and “Star Wars: Rogue One” opening in December. He was most recently seen in the boxing pic “Southpaw.”
He is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment.
Source: Variety
Lee Daniels Back On Board Of Richard Pryor Biopic; Jay Z Also On Board As A Producer!
Our last update on this (in May of this year) was to announce that Lee Daniels, who was initially attached to direct the film, exited the project. Reasons given had nothing to do with any creative differences; Daniels was/is a busy man these days, with a hit Fox series in “Empire,” and a second musical drama series – “Star” – greenlit by Fox, which premieres next year. So with “Empire” and “Star” on his plate, with active involvement in each, it appeared he had little time for much else. And a Richard Pryor biopic certainly isn’t something to take lightly, and make “on the side.” It requires the full participation and commitment of the filmmaker.
It was then announced that The Weinstein Company, who are backing the film, were on the hunt for a director to replace Daniels – a hunt that’s apparently brought them right back to Daniels, because Harvey Weinstein revealed today, during a press conference for another project he’s producing with Jay Z, which we announced this morning (the Spike TV docuseries on Kalief Browder).
Weinstein said that the film is still on, with Lee Daniels attached to direct; he added that Jay Z is now also on board to produce, which is certainly news.
As of our last update on the biopic, Tracy Morgan was in negotiations to play Redd Foxx in the film. He would have been joining a growing cast that also included Taraji P. Henson playing Richard Pryor’s mother; Eddie Murphy as Pryor’s father; Oprah Winfrey as Pryor’s grandmother; Kate Hudson as Jennifer Lee Pryor, Richard Pryor’s 4th wife; and, of course, Mike Epps in the starring role, as Richard Pryor.
Weinstein didn’t share details – specifically whether the same actors were all still attached to star in the film; especially Taraji P. Henson, who is busier than she was when she first signed on to appear in the film (the project has been in the works for several years).
Production was set to begin this year – in March specifically – as soon as Daniels wrapped up the second season of his hit Fox series “Empire.” That’s obviously didn’t happen.
The biopic has been in development for quite some time. Before Daniels came on board in 2014, the news was that the project had changed hands yet again, as Forest Whitaker took over as producer (this came shortly after the huge success of “Fruitvale Station” at the Sundance Film Festival the year before – a film he produced). It was also the same time that The Weinstein Company (TWC), who produced and distributed Daniels’ previous film, the blockbuster drama “The Butler,” came on board to back the project as well. Before that, Marlon Wayans was attached to star, and Chris Rock was to produce alongside Adam Sandler. When Daniels and TWC took over, Wayans was apparently still in the mix, although it was reported that Michael B. Jordan and Eddie Murphy were both on the short list as well.
Mike Epps would eventually get the part.
The project is being made with input from Pryor’s widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor; so, I suppose we could say that this won’t be one of those troubled biopics made without the approval/blessing of the subject’s family. Although, if there’s suddenly some objection from someone we don’t know of yet, I won’t be surprised, given recent biopic project hold-ups.
So don’t expect the completed film until some time in late 2017, or even beyond; unless it’s suddenly fast-tracked.
Below, watch the press conference on the announcement of the TWC/Jay Z/Spike TV docuseries on Kalief Browder, which took place this morning. The mention of the Richard Pryor biopic comes at around the 29:35 mark, if you want to skip ahead.
Source: Shadow&Act
Jennifer Hudson Adds Another Dramatic Role, To Star In New Film ‘Monster’!
JOHN SALANGSANG/BFA/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
Kelvin Harrison, Jr. (“The Birth of a Nation”) and Jennifer Hudson are starring in the independent drama “Monster,” which is starting production this week in New York City.
Bron Studios has joined forces with Tonik Productions and Get Lifted Film Co. to co-produce and finance. The cast includes Jennifer Ehle, A$AP Rocky, Nas, Tim Blake Nelson, John David Washington and Jeffrey Wright.
The film is produced in association with Charlevoix, Red Crown and Creative Wealth Media. “Monster” marks the feature debut of commercial-music video director Anthony Mandler, directing from a script by Colen C. Wiley and Janece Shaffer, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers.
Harrison will portray 17-year-old honors student and aspiring filmmaker Steve Harmon, charged with felony murder for a crime he says he did not commit. The film follows his journey from a smart, likeable young man from Harlem attending an elite high school through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison.
Producers are Bron Studios’ Aaron L. Gilbert; Tonik Productions’ Nikki Silver and Tonya Lewis Lee; Mike Jackson of Get Lifted Film Co and Charlevoix’s Edward Nahem.
Executive producers include Nas, Red Crown’s Daniel Crown and Yoni Liebling, Creative Wealth’s Jason Cloth and Richard McConnell, Linnea Roberts and Get Lifted Film Co’s John Legend. Legend and Nas will both play a role in the film’s music.
“Monster” is represented by WME Global.
Source: Variety
On This Day In Comedy… In 1967 Actor And Comedian Leslie Jones Was Born!
On this day in comedy on September 7, 1967 Comedienne, Actress, Writer, Leslie Jones was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
Starting off life as a much traveled U S Army military brat, Jones’ beloved father suggested she play basketball due to her height. This led to a scholarship at Chapman University. She later transferred to Colorado State to follow her coach who had made the switch. Over the course of her academic career she studied law, business accounting, computer science and communications (she was a radio DJ at Chapman). At one point she even considered playing basketball overseas.
Like many comics, Jones was goaded into the world of standup by a well-meaning friend who signed her up for the “Funniest Person on Campus” competition in 1987. She won and made her way to L. A. where she performed in clubs such as Maverick Flats, The Comedy Act Theater and The Comedy Store. However, it wasn’t long before Jones felt she was on a treadmill and going nowhere, but getting ‘exposure’. At the suggestion of Dave Chappelle and others she packed up and headed for New York where comedy was more about the nuts and bolts of the craft as opposed to the glitz and glamour. She got damn good, but that didn’t prevent her from being ahead of her time. She returned to the West Coast better than ever, but following some bad press on the Hollywood circuit and as Jamie Foxx’s opening act, Jones packed up again and went into semi-retirement.
Leslie Jones was virtually off the comedy circuit for an astounding three years. A career killer for most, she gained perspective and when she came back this time she had a fire in her belly that only the stage could extinguish. In 2008 she was the feature of the biggest money making comedy tour in North America, Katt Williams’ It’s Pimpin, Pimpin Tour along with Simply Cookie and D’Militant. Jones won rave reviews and appeared at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and the Aspen Comedy Festival. In 2010 Showtime broadcast her one-hour special, Problem Child.
In 2013, at the urging of SNL alumni Chris Rock, Jones was hired by show creator, Lorne Michaels as a writer for the long running NBC comedy institution Saturday Night Live to quiet down some of the talk of a lack of diversity on not only the network, but that program in particular. Jones parlayed a writing spot into a featured spot in 2014 and that into being the season’s breakout performer. She broke even more new ground by being the oldest cast member of the show. Apparently time was on her side. Chris Rock cast her in his film Top Five, which prompted Judd Apatow and Amy Schumer to pen a part for her in Schumer’s starring 2015 vehicle, Trainwreck.
Before you knew it she had been cast as one of the four principles for the all-female reboot of the comedy classic, Ghostbusters (along with Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig). Jones was on top of the world, but with seemingly overnight success comes haters and hers made their presence known on Twitter. Spewing racially hateful remarks about Jones only made the public and industry embrace her even more. She became the poster girl for all those who were sick and tired of cyber-bullies. NBC even flew her to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio as a goodwill correspondent, prompted by her enthusiastic tweets for America’s athletes and their returned love of her fandom and support.
Besides her breakout movie performance in Ghostbusters, Leslie Jones has appeared in the films National Security, A Guy Thing, Repos, Something Like a Business, Lottery Ticket, House Arrest, We Are Family, Masterminds and Sing.
On This Day In Comedy… In 1958 Sound Effects Comedian Michael Winslow Was Born!
On this day in comedy on September 6, 1958 Sound Effects Comedian, Michael Winslow born in Spokane, WA.
Billed as the “Man of 10,000 Sound Effects”, Michael Winslow’s skill is reproducing realistic sounds with his voice. This talent was developed at the Lisa Maile School of Acting, Modeling and Imaging. As a military brat he had few human friends, but plenty of noises to keep him company. Winslow would while away the hours imitating barnyard critters, motors, weather sounds, musical instruments, jungle beasts, record players, artillery, household appliances and all other forms of racket. A no-brainer, Winslow scraped together enough money performing in night clubs to move to Hollywood.
Winslow’s initial exposure came on the Gong Show where he mystified the audience. His first film (he did over 40) was Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie, but it was in the Police Academy films and television show that he gained fame playing Sgt. Larvelle “Motor Mouth” Jones. He dropped the album “I Am My Own Walkman” and was featured in the Mel Brook’s parody to Star Wars, Spaceballs. In the Brooks film, Winslow did all the sound effects; saving the film money. He hosted a film appreciation series for television, did commercials and toured as a motivational speaker.
Michael Winslow is foremost an innovator. Besides being a world renowned stand-up performer, he created Apps based on his sound effects. His iPhone and iPad Touch has ThatsKungFu which gives Winslow’s kung fu effects when swung. NoizeyMan is just what it sounds like; Winslow with a slew of sounds he created– noisy ones. He developed a mobile game for iOS and provided all the sound effects for the game and has been known to anonymously lend out his voice for other projects.
