Khaby Lame, the Senegalese-born Italian influencer who is the most-followed content creator on TikTok, is set to make his feature film debut playing a food delivery rider who is recruited by the CIA in an action-comedy that will take him around the world.
The English-language spy comedy working-titled “00Khaby” – and set in Italy, the U.S., Monte Carlo, Dubai and France’s Côte d’Azur, among other locations – will see Lame playing a JustEat rider who, after intersecting with a dissident scientist, is recruited by the CIA as bait to mislead enemy secret services. “While he runs away from arms traffickers and steals DNA samples, the clumsy secret agent must also deal with his jealous Italian Chinese girlfriend and her annoying little brother,” reads the film’s synopsis. “But in the end, thanks to a mix of cunning, luck and his unshakeable optimism, he will be able to foil no less than World War III.”
The spy spoof that will bring Lame – who has 162 million followers on TikTok – to the big screen is being produced by Marco Belardi, who shepherded “Perfect Strangers,” Italy’s megahit concept dramedy that’s been remade in a dozen countries around the world. The “00Khaby” screenplay is being penned by Italian writers Nicola Guaglianone and Roberto Marchionni (aka Menotti), who co-wrote hit offbeat Italian superhero movie “They Call Me Jeeg.”
Belardi is headed to Los Angeles this week with Lame and the “00Khaby” screenplay “looking to mount an international production,” the producer said. Belardi added that he is in advanced talks with at least one prominent international director.
Meanwhile, Lame will be attending the Grammy Awards on Feb. 4 — possibly among the celebs handing out an award there — and will also be visibly present at the Super Bowl on Feb. 12 as part of a marketing campaign. In the U.S., Lame is also going to be honing his acting skills and perfecting his English.
“Acting has always been my dream, but I don’t want to improvise,” Lame said in a statement, adding: “This is why I am ready to delve deeper into my acting and English studies to perform at my best in this film.” Lame also pointed out that he is doing lots of physical training because “as I asked Marco Belardi, I don’t want to be replaced by a stuntman in the action scenes.”
Lame revealed that next month in L.A. he will meet a Hollywood star “whom I have always respected and I will certainly get some advice on how to move in front of the camera.” That star is believed to be Will Smith who, according to sources, has booked Lame to perform a cameo in an unspecified upcoming film.
The 23-year-old is a former factory worker in Italy who, after being laid off from his job in March 2020, launched a TikTok channel in which he performed absurdly comic skits that went wildly viral. In one, he simply unpeeled a banana with his hands in response to a video of a banana skin being intricately sliced off with a chef’s clever knife. His comedy bits rely on facial expressions and body language and often don’t involve speaking so that the humor is understood universally.
Lame’s first foray as an entertainment personality outside the TikTok space was being a juror last year on “Italia’s Got Talent,” which plays on Disney+. He also became a character in the battle-royale video empire “Fortnite” and has close ties to the fashion world thanks to a multi-year partnership with clothing brand Hugo Boss.
Source: Variety
Affion Crockett is paying homage to hip-hop through a comedic lens with his upcoming movie, A Hip Hop Story. The comedian, known for his stand-up comedy, hilarious impressions, and Wild N Out appearances, plans to take audiences on a journey that looks at hip-hop’s past, present, and future. The film is scheduled for release on February 23, 2024. No doubt, it promises to bring laughter, social commentary, and a unique perspective on the evolution of Hip Hop over the last five decades.
Directed by Damaine Radcliff and written by Crockett himself, A Hip Hop Story revolves around the premise that the Hip Hop culture is in a state of crisis. A pioneer of the culture joins forces with some of rap music’s elite performers to attempt to save Hip Hop. At a time when social media trends have overshadowed the music itself, A Hip Hop Story aims to address the genre’s evolution.
The first trailer for A Hip Hop Story sets the stage for a musical comedy extravaganza. Affion Crockett takes on the challenge of parodying iconic figures such as Kanye West, JAY-Z, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Biggie, Diddy, Run-DMC, Russell Simmons, Salt-N-Pepa, Joe Budden, and Chris Rock. Moreover, the trailer showcases Crockett’s versatility as he portrays multiple characters. One, in particular, includes a spoof of Russell Simmons as the founder of “Def Man Recordings”, a nod to the iconic Def Jam label created by Simmons and Rick Rubin.
The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, led by Affion Crockett. Moreover, it will also include appearances from Cedric the Entertainer, Damaine Radcliff, Jevin Smith, Damien Dante Wayans, Lil Rel Howery, Wayne Brady, Lil Mama, and Norm Nixon, Jr. Each member of the cast brings their unique flair to the characters, contributing to the humor and authenticity of the film.
AMCi distribution will distribute A Hip Hop Story. That same division is responsible for major projects such as Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce. This strategic partnership undoubtedly ensures that the film reaches a wide audience, leveraging the distribution company’s expertise in bringing entertainment to the masses.
In the words of Affion Crockett, A Hip Hop Story is a love letter to the culture that shaped lives and communities. In addition to the comedic elements, the film carries a message that encourages audiences to reflect on the value of Hip Hop and its impact over the past 50 years. As producer Charlie Mack describes it, the movie takes viewers on a wonderful journey through the evolution of Hip Hop, exploring its roots and settling on its current path.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has a release date. The Netflix movie will be the fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, which previously existed as a trilogy that was released between 1984 and 1994. Eddie Murphy will be reprising his iconic role as Axel Foley, a Detroit police officer who became a fish out of water when transplanted to Beverly Hills. The movie sees him reunite with Judge Reinhold as Billy Rosewood (who appeared in all three movies) and John Ashton as John Taggart (whose most recent appearance was in 1987’s Beverly Hills Cop Ii).
Netflix has now unveiled the official release date for the upcoming Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. The long-awaited sequel is set to premiere on the streaming service on July 3. This means that the movie will debut just over a month after the 30th anniversary of the release of Beverly Hills Cop III and five months shy of the overall franchise’s 40th anniversary.
Martin Lawrence and Shannon Sharpe chatted with “Extra’s” Melvin Robert on the golf course as they filmed their Super Bowl LVIII spot for Oikos. The guys dished on the commercial, the big game, and their excitement for Usher’s Halftime Show.
Martin also talked “Bad Boys 4” and teased that fans will be “surprised”! Plus, he shared why he doesn’t think a “Martin” reboot would ever happen.
Watch the interview below;
Taraji P. Henson (The Color Purple, Hidden Figures) has joined the cast of Peacock‘s limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist in the series regular role of Vivian Thomas, a savvy businesswoman and Chicken Man’s (Kevin Hart) mistress.
The series reunites Henson with Hart who have collaborated on multiple projects including the films Think Like a Man and Not Easily Broken. Additionally, Fight Night also brings Henson back together with Terrence Howard and Craig Brewer, with whom she collaborated on Hustle & Flow and Empire, among other projects.
Set in Atlanta, Fight Night tells the infamous story of how an armed robbery during the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight changed not only one man’s life but an entire city’s destiny.
As it was reported earlier today by the trades on Wednesday morning, Dexter Darden will star as the legendary boxer in the limited series. In addition to Henson, Darden, Hart, and Howard, Samuel L. Jackson also stars.
Fight Night is created and written by Shaye Ogbonna based on the eponymous podcast from iHeartPodcasts, Doghouse Pictures and Will Packer Media. Ogbonna and Jason Horwitch serve as showrunners; they exec produce alongside Hart, Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein for Hart’s Hartbeat, Packer and Sabrina Wind for Will Packer Media, Conal Byrne, Will Pearson and Carrie Lieberman for iHeartPodcasts, Jeff Keating and Lars Jacobson. Hartbeat’s Tiffany Brown and Studio 43’s Kenny Burns will co-executive produce. The series comes from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Henson is coming off a busy award season promoting the highly lauded film The Color Purple, an adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, which is itself an adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. She reprised the role of Shug Avery to much acclaim.
She is also best known for her breakout performance in the 2005 musical drama feature Hustle & Flow, written and directed by Brewer, and for her portrayal of Cookie Lyon on the Fox series Empire. Additional credits across TV and film also include Minions: The Rise of Gru, Annie Live!, Think Like a Man, Smokin’ Aces and What Men Want, among many other titles.
Henson is represented by CAA, M88, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
Apple TV+ has booked a return flight for its drama series Hijack.
The tech behemoth’s streaming service has ordered a second season of the thriller starring and executive-produced by Idris Elba. Details on the story for season two are being kept under wraps, but Elba will reprise his role as Sam Nelson — a corporate negotiator who in the first season used his skills to bring about a resolution to the hijacking of a flight on which he was a passenger.
“I was floored by the overwhelming audience response after season one,” Elba said in a statement. “It’s top secret what new situation unfolds for Sam Nelson, but I can assure you we will bring the high octane back!”
Hijack, which concluded its seven-episode first season in August, drew solid viewership for Apple TV+, becoming the second series on the platform (after Ted Lasso) to earn a spot on Nielsen’s weekly top 10 streaming chart. Reviews were generally favorable as well, with The Hollywood Reporter critic Angie Han noting that co-creators George Kay and Jim Field Smith “keep the tension at a delicious thrum.”
“Global audiences were on tenterhooks watching Idris’s riveting performance in Hijack, and we’re thrilled to be working again with [producers] 60Forty and Idiotlamp on an equally compelling season two,” said Jay Hunt, creative director Europe for Apple TV+.
Kay and Field Smith (who’s also the lead director on the series) will executive produce season two via their Idiotlamp Productions. Elba also exec produces along with 60Forty’s Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta and Tom Nash.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Black Hollywood treasure Garrett Morris is set to be recognized by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The ceremony will take place on Feb. 1 at 11:30 a.m. PT, which also happens to be his 87th birthday.
“Garrett Morris is a true entertainment icon and is ready for Prime Time on the Walk of Fame!” said Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in a statement. Director-producer Oz Scott and actress Tichina Arnold will be the guest speakers during Morris’ celebration.
Morris is a Juilliard-trained artist and performed with the Harry Belafonte Singers for a decade while also branching out into acting. He boasts appearances in Broadway and off-Broadway musicals including “Porgy and Bess,” “Show Boat,” “Ain’t Supposed To Die A Natural Death,” and “The Great White Hope.”
He’s also known for his performances on The Wayans Bros., Martin, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Jeffersons, Scandal, All Of Us, Grand Crew, Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, most recently, 2 Broke Girls, and for being one of the original Saturday Night Live stars.
Under the segment, “News for the Hard of Hearing,” Morris’ spot-on, hilarious impersonations of Idi Amin, James Brown, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Marley, and Muhammad Ali made him beloved by generations of viewers..
Artistry aside, the New Orleans native is also an activist who played a pivotal role in desegregating the Actor’s Equity. He was also part of the Black Arts Theater movement alongside poet-playwright Amiri Baraka.
Morris, who now owns and operates the Los Angeles Blues and Comedy Club, was previously recognized in 2007 by the former mayor of L.A. Antonio Villaraigosa for his work and contributions to the Black community.
Mario Van Peebles is returning to the big screen with a new Western film titled, Outlaw Posse.
The trailer was released on Tuesday exclusively via Complex and tells the story of Chief (played by Peebles), a renegade cowboy determined “to restore balance to an unfair world.” He forms a group of fellow outcasts to go on a cross-country trek to reclaim stolen gold in a territory filled with betrayal, gunfights, showdowns, horse chases, and more.
The film is written and directed by Van Peebles and has an ensemble cast that includes Whoopi Goldberg, Cedric The Entertainer, William Mapother, John Carroll Lynch, D.C. Young Fly, Jake Manly, Mandela Van Peebles, Amber Reign Smith, and Neal McDonough.
“No doubt the making of OUTLAW POSSE has been a labor of love! We had a blast making a badass Western that reflects how really wild and diverse the west was,” Van Peebles said in a statement. “In the feature the rough posse of outlaws go after the gold but they also stand up in defiance against unfair regulations, declaring that when laws are unjust, the just become outlaws!”
Outlaw Posse also pays homage to the 1993 film Posse in which Peebles co-starred with his late father, Melvin Van Peebles. With Outlaw Posse, Van Peebles is continuing the tradition started with Posse by co-starring with his son Mandela Van Peebles.
“It’s been over 30 years since we released our classic Posse, starring my father Melvin and I, and I can’t wait for fans to now meet the new Outlaws,” Van Peebles added. “We may not always watch the same news these days or share the same facts, but hopefully we can all still enjoy a raucous ride through the wild wild West together; and who knows, maybe we’ll come out the other side a little less divided.”
Watch the trailer for Outlaw Posse below.
This spring, GRAMMY Award-winning multiplatinum superstar, actress, producer and entrepreneur, Toni Braxton and the legendary “Original King of Comedy” Cedric the Entertainer will join forces for ‘Love & Laughter,’ a one-of-a-kind music and comedy limited engagement at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Longtime friends Toni and Cedric will co-headline bringing together their respective worlds live on stage. Fans can expect timeless hits from Toni’s vast discography, amplified by her mesmerizing voice, coupled with the kind of brilliant hilarity only a legend like Cedric can provide. Throughout the show, the two icons will captivate the crowd through music, jokes and storytelling – creating the ideal feel-good evening.
Powered by their harmonious chemistry, the dynamic duo shines like never before, proving that love and laughter will forever be all we need. “Comedy and song have been at the heart of the human communal experience since the beginning of time, and we are thrilled to join on stage to bring that experience to the Cosmopolitan. We could all use a little more love and laughter in our lives,” said Cedric the Entertainer and Toni Braxton.
‘Love & Laughter,’ starring Toni Braxton and Cedric the Entertainer, is scheduled to perform seven shows beginning Saturday, April 27. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. PST. For additional information, visit the official site or cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.
On Friday night, ALLBLK, the popular streaming service for Black television and film from AMC Networks, hosted a red carpet event for the taping of the upcoming, live comedy special Gary “G-Thang” Johnson: Sitcho Ass Down. Directed by Bentley Kyle Evans, showrunner of The Jamie Foxx Show and Martin, the special will air exclusively on ALLBLK in Spring 2024.
The taping included two hilarious live shows from comedian and actor, Gary “G-Thang” Johnson at the historic El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles. The event was filled with celebrities, influencers, and notables including Vivica A. Fox, Tisha Campbell, NAACP Vice Chair Karen Boykin-Towns, and Robi Reed, among others.
Gary “G-Thang” Johnson started his stand-up career at The Funny Bones Comedy Club in 1994 and has opened for some of the biggest names in comedy, including Mike Epps, Cedric The Entertainer, Steve Harvey, DL Hughley andChris Rock. He toured with Mike Epps on the Don’t Take It Personal Tour and recently wrapped season one of BET’s Happily Ever After. Additional acting credits include Bentley Kyle Evans andTrenten Gumbs’ Grown Folks, Girlfriends, Half & Half, All of Us, FOX’s The Shield, MTV’s Punk’d with Ashton Kutcher, ABC’s In Case of Emergency, Uncle Buck, Black-ish, Showtime’s Mike Epps Presents and more. Johnson has also appeared on BET’s The Game and co-hosted the NAACP Image Awards andThe Soul Train Music Awards. On the theater stage, Johnson has starred in Cheaper to Keep Her, oppositeVivica A. Fox and Brian McKnight. Johnson is currently touring and headlining The Improv and the Laugh Factory Clubs worldwide.
ALLBLK is known for producing a variety of successful comedy specials including Kevin Hart’s I’m a Grown Little Man, Charlie Murphy’s I Will NOT Apologize, Nephew Tommy’s Just My Thoughts, Donnell Rawlings’ From Ashy to Classy, Lil Duval’s Living My Best Life and many others. ALLBLK will soon stream several specials from notable comedians, including Kevin Hart, Erica Nicole Clark, Lil Rel Howery and more.