Black in Period Films

We finally have the teaser trailer for the much anticipated western, The Harder They Fall!! From Netflix: When outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison he rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge. Those riding with him in this assured, righteously new school Western include his former love Stagecoach Mary (Zazie Beetz), his right and left hand men — hot-tempered Bill Pickett (Edi Gathegi) and fast drawing Jim Beckwourth (R.J. Cyler)—and a surprising adversary-turned-ally.  Rufus Buck has his own fearsome crew, including “Treacherous” Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield), and they are not a group that knows how to lose.  Directed by Jeymes Samuel, written by Samuel and Boaz Yakin, produced by Shawn Carter, James Lassiter, Lawrence Bender and Jeymes Samuel, and featuring a red hot soundtrack and a stunning all-star cast, including Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy...

There has been a lot of talk amongst the Jane Austen fandom about the latest adaption of Jane Austen's 1817 novel Persuasion. The Netflix adaption is being described as a "modern, witty" retelling of the Jane Austen classic Persuasion. The latest bit of news from the Persuasion set features actress Nikki Amuka-Bird. Although her role hasn't yet been disclosed, many believe she will be playing the character Lady Russell. Dakota Johnson is leading the film as Anne Elliot.  Nikki Amuka-Bird can be seen wearing a purple pelisse with a velvet beret light draped across her beautiful natural hair. Lady Russell is Anne's godmother and close friends with her late mother. The nice pelisse makes sense for the character as Lady Russel is the wealthy widow of a titled gentleman. Although Lady Russell does make some iffy choices (in the book) and I am eager to see if Nikki Amuka-Bird is actually playing her. 

Based on the true story of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, Women of the Movement is a limited anthology series event coming to ABC. The first season of this anthology will focus on Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till played by Adrienne Warren and Cedric Joe. After her 14 year old son's murder in 1955, Mamie Till-Mobley risks her life to find justice. Mamie became an activist and fighter for justice when she choose to share her loss and pain on the world stage. Mamie-Till Mobley and the open casket viewing the sparked the civil rights movement. The series also stars Tonya Pinkins as Alma, Ray Fisher as Gene Mobley, Glynn Turman as Mose Wright, Chris Coy as J.W. Milam, Carter Jenkins as Roy Bryant and Julia McDermott as Carolyn Bryant.

  From Executive Producers Saladin Patterson, Fred Savage, and Lee Daniels comes the next great coming of age story. The Wonder Years is coming to ABC.  Elisha Williams is playing the lead Dean Williams, Dulé Hill is his father Bill Williams, Saycon Sengbloh is his mother Lillian Williams, and Laura Kariuki is Dean’s older sister Kim Williams. Young actress Milan Ray is seen in the trailer and will star as Keisa Clemmons. Don Cheadle is the narrator who recalls his experiences growing up in Montgomery, Alabama during the late-1960s.

The cast for Tyler Perry’s new Netflix film A Jazzman’s Blues has come together with the announcement of addition actors. The cast includes previously announced leads Joshua Boone and Solea Pfeiffer. New cast members include Amirah Vann, Austin Scott, Milauna Jackson, Kario Marcel, Lana Young, Brent Antonello, Brad Benedict, and Ryan Eggold.  A Jazzman’s Blues is written and directed by Perry. The film follows forty years of secrets and lies in a tale of forbidden love and family drama in the deep South. Perry has said that this project is especially special to him as this was the first screenplay Perry wrote 26 years ago. Perry commented on the film saying: “I have waited a quarter of a century to tell this story and now is the perfect time and Netflix is the perfect partner.” A Jazzman’s Blues began shooting this week in Savannah, Georgia and at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. It’s currently set for a 2022 release on Netflix.

  “Nothing was given, all was earned. Hold on to what belongs to you.” From Academy Award® winner Barry Jenkins and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead comes the Amazon Original limited series “The Underground Railroad”. The Underground Railroad is a historical fiction novel by American author Colson Whitehead published by Doubleday in 2016. The alternate history novel tells the story of Cora and Caesar, two slaves in the southeastern United States during the 19th century, who make a bid for freedom from their Georgia plantation by following the Underground Railroad, which the novel depicts as primarily a rail transport system in addition to a series of safe houses and secret routes. I am really looking forward to this series. I read the book and enjoyed the unique concept and I plan on doing a podcast recap of the series. I want to breakdown the similarities and  differences  between the novel and series. I had so many thoughts about the novel s...

Mabel "Madea" Earlene Simmons a character created and played by Tyler Perry is getting her own origin story on Showtime.  The series idea for a Madea origin story was created by Tyler Perry and Tim Palen. The series, titled Mabel is being developed by Showtime. Mabel has received a multiple-script order and will be written by JaNeika James and JaSheika James. The pair have been staff writers and supervising producers on Empire. Mabel will follow Madea as a 20-something black woman 1972’s Atlanta, Georgia. The series title Mabel comes for Madea's real name Mabel Simmons.   Admittedly, I am a bit weary of how this series could turn out. However, there is a bigger part of me that wants to see how Madea's life is handled. We know quite a bit about Madea. According to the internet Madea was born in Greensburg, Louisiana on June 26, 1935. Madea is known for her many outrageous claims throughout her various stage, film, and television appearances. One such claim bein...