In “The Big Cigar,” contradictions weigh heavily on Huey P. Newton (played by the magnificent André Holland). He sees them everywhere. For instance, Huey notes that the NRA contradicted their general ideology by helping the GOP pass gun control laws in the 1960s, all because they were afraid of the group Newton co-founded: the Black Panthers. He’s also keenly aware of the contradiction inherent to a Black man being “set free” from a prison of bars and stone into the prison of the American way. “Contrary to propagated belief, I’m not living to die, but I am refusing to live without liberation,” Huey says during his opening voice-over narration.
He even acknowledges the contradiction inherent to “The Big Cigar” itself, saying, “The story I’m about to tell you is true. […] But it is coming through the lens of Hollywood, so let’s see how much of my...
He even acknowledges the contradiction inherent to “The Big Cigar” itself, saying, “The story I’m about to tell you is true. […] But it is coming through the lens of Hollywood, so let’s see how much of my...
- 5/17/2024
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
At one point in the new Apple TV+ miniseries The Big Cigar, Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton (André Holland) attends a party and recalls the time he and film producer Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) tried to write a movie about his life, which would have starred comedian Richard Pryor (Inny Clemons). The key, Schneider explains: “If it’s gonna be a biopic, you have to choose a moment in Huey’s life that means something. Don’t just make it womb to tomb.”
Though The Big Cigar features...
Though The Big Cigar features...
- 5/17/2024
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
Apple TV+ has just unveiled the trailer for “The Big Cigar,” the six-part limited series about Black Panther party founder Huey P. Newton (André Holland). The show tells the remarkable true story of how Newton, a film producer, and a whole crew of people involved in a fake movie production helped the political activist while he tried to evade the FBI in 1974.
The trailer introduces Holland as Newton and his revolutionary accomplishments, along Alessandro Nivola as producer Bert Schneider. The cast includes Tiffany Boone, Pj Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Moses Ingram, Rebecca Dalton, Olli Haaskivi, Jordane Christie, and Glynn Turman (guest stars include Taylor Jackson as Candice Bergen and Inny Clemons as Richard Pryor). With upbeat ’70s music and the peppy fonts to go with it, the vibe is more upbeat than one would expect of a drama thriller — but as the premise underscores, there’s always more story to tell.
The trailer introduces Holland as Newton and his revolutionary accomplishments, along Alessandro Nivola as producer Bert Schneider. The cast includes Tiffany Boone, Pj Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Moses Ingram, Rebecca Dalton, Olli Haaskivi, Jordane Christie, and Glynn Turman (guest stars include Taylor Jackson as Candice Bergen and Inny Clemons as Richard Pryor). With upbeat ’70s music and the peppy fonts to go with it, the vibe is more upbeat than one would expect of a drama thriller — but as the premise underscores, there’s always more story to tell.
- 4/24/2024
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Rlje Films has picked up North American rights to actor Mo McRae’s feature directorial debut, A Lot of Nothing — a satirical thriller starring Y’Ian Noel (Insecure), Cleopatra Coleman (The Last Man on Earth), Lex Scott Davis (Rebel), Shamier Anderson (Invasion) and Justin Hartley (This Is Us). AMC Networks’ business unit has slated the film for release in theaters and on demand on February 3rd.
A Lot of Nothing centers around James (Noel) and Vanessa (Coleman), who seem to be the perfect couple — happily married, successful, and comfortable. But one night, their lives are rocked to the core when, after watching a tragedy play out on the evening news, they realize their neighbor was involved. In a state of shock, and with opposing viewpoints on how to address the issue, they embark on a highly combustible journey to ‘do something’ about it.
McRae and Sarah Kelly Kaplan (Perry Mason) wrote the film,...
A Lot of Nothing centers around James (Noel) and Vanessa (Coleman), who seem to be the perfect couple — happily married, successful, and comfortable. But one night, their lives are rocked to the core when, after watching a tragedy play out on the evening news, they realize their neighbor was involved. In a state of shock, and with opposing viewpoints on how to address the issue, they embark on a highly combustible journey to ‘do something’ about it.
McRae and Sarah Kelly Kaplan (Perry Mason) wrote the film,...
- 11/17/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Jake T. Austin (The Wizards of Waverly Place), Paulo Costanzo (Royal Pains), Iman Karram (Glow) and Ka’ramuu Kush (Five Deep Breaths) have joined the cast of Daft State, the psychological thriller from Chad Bishoff, which just entered production.
The four actors will appear alongside previously announced leads Christopher Backus (Big Little Lies) and Skye P. Marshall (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina).
The film scripted by Bishoff and Sam Harter charts the mysterious psychological destruction of Easton (Backus), who is driven to the edge of sanity, and possible self-harm, by those that love him most—his wife (Marshall) and daughter. Will Easton succumb to their increasingly traumatizing pressure, or will he conquer the dark forces at play in his addled psyche?
The Syncretic Entertainment production is produced by Bishoff and Erich Hover. Its exec producers include Inny Clemons, Lisa Crnic (Paramount’s Clifford the Big Red Dog...
The four actors will appear alongside previously announced leads Christopher Backus (Big Little Lies) and Skye P. Marshall (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina).
The film scripted by Bishoff and Sam Harter charts the mysterious psychological destruction of Easton (Backus), who is driven to the edge of sanity, and possible self-harm, by those that love him most—his wife (Marshall) and daughter. Will Easton succumb to their increasingly traumatizing pressure, or will he conquer the dark forces at play in his addled psyche?
The Syncretic Entertainment production is produced by Bishoff and Erich Hover. Its exec producers include Inny Clemons, Lisa Crnic (Paramount’s Clifford the Big Red Dog...
- 8/9/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Christopher Backus & Skye P. Marshall (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) have signed on to star in Daft State, a psychological thriller from director Chad Bishoff, which heads into production in Omaha, Nebraska this month.
The film scripted by Bishoff and Sam Harter charts the mysterious psychological destruction of Easton (Backus), who is driven to the edge of sanity, and possible self-harm, by those that love him most—his wife (Marshall) and daughter. Will Easton succumb to their increasingly traumatizing pressure, or will he conquer the dark forces at play in his addled psyche?
The Syncretic Entertainment production is produced by Bishoff and Erich Hover. Its exec producers include Inny Clemons, Lisa Crnic (Paramount’s Clifford the Big Red Dog), Brett Cullen (Joker) and Jonas Roeser (It Snows All the Time).
“I’ve always been inspired by great psychological thrillers. Mental...
The film scripted by Bishoff and Sam Harter charts the mysterious psychological destruction of Easton (Backus), who is driven to the edge of sanity, and possible self-harm, by those that love him most—his wife (Marshall) and daughter. Will Easton succumb to their increasingly traumatizing pressure, or will he conquer the dark forces at play in his addled psyche?
The Syncretic Entertainment production is produced by Bishoff and Erich Hover. Its exec producers include Inny Clemons, Lisa Crnic (Paramount’s Clifford the Big Red Dog), Brett Cullen (Joker) and Jonas Roeser (It Snows All the Time).
“I’ve always been inspired by great psychological thrillers. Mental...
- 8/4/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
‘This Is Us’ Star Justin Hartley Joins Y’lan Noel & Cleopatra Coleman In Thriller ‘A Lot Of Nothing’
Exclusive: This Is Us star Justin Hartley is joining Y’lan Noel (The First Purge), Cleopatra Coleman (The Last Man on Earth), Lex Scott Davis (The First Purge) and Shamier Anderson (Stowaway) in movie thriller A Lot Of Nothing, which is underway in Los Angeles.
In the feature, which is described to us as a “dark comedy-thriller”, things spiral out of control when a married couple living in a LA suburb is compelled to take dangerous actions when they discover their next-door neighbor (Hartley) is the police officer that just murdered an unarmed motorist.
Actor-producer Mo McRae’s directorial debut comes from a screenplay he co-wrote with Sarah Kelly Kaplan (HBO’s Perry Mason). CAA Media Finance is handling world sales rights.
McRae, who has acted in movies such as Wild, Lee Daniels’ The Butler and The First Purge, produces alongside Inny Clemons and Jason Tamasco. The Anonymous Content, Scalable Content,...
In the feature, which is described to us as a “dark comedy-thriller”, things spiral out of control when a married couple living in a LA suburb is compelled to take dangerous actions when they discover their next-door neighbor (Hartley) is the police officer that just murdered an unarmed motorist.
Actor-producer Mo McRae’s directorial debut comes from a screenplay he co-wrote with Sarah Kelly Kaplan (HBO’s Perry Mason). CAA Media Finance is handling world sales rights.
McRae, who has acted in movies such as Wild, Lee Daniels’ The Butler and The First Purge, produces alongside Inny Clemons and Jason Tamasco. The Anonymous Content, Scalable Content,...
- 4/28/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix announced a premiere date for “Sneakerheads,” and YouTube announced a premiere date for the Paris Hilton Documentary, “This is Paris.”
Dates
Netflix has announced a Sept. 25 premiere date for “Sneakerheads,” a comedy series starring Allen Maldonado, Andrew Bachelor, Jearnest Corchado, Matthew Josten, Yaani King Mondschein, Justin Lee and Aja Evans. Maldonado plays Devin, a stay-at-home dad who enlists the help of shoe lovers to search for “Zeroes,” a difficult-to-find pair of shoes, after losing $5,000 on a money-making scheme. The show’s executive producers are Jay Longino, Inny Clemons, Justin Killion, Will Gluck, Richard Schwartz, Kevin Mann, Brendan Bragg, Jason Belleville, Rod Grable and Dave Meyers. View photos from the show below.
YouTube announced that the documentary following Paris Hilton, “This is Paris,” will be available starting Sept. 14 on the personality’s YouTube channel. The documentary will take a look at the life of the celebrity,...
Dates
Netflix has announced a Sept. 25 premiere date for “Sneakerheads,” a comedy series starring Allen Maldonado, Andrew Bachelor, Jearnest Corchado, Matthew Josten, Yaani King Mondschein, Justin Lee and Aja Evans. Maldonado plays Devin, a stay-at-home dad who enlists the help of shoe lovers to search for “Zeroes,” a difficult-to-find pair of shoes, after losing $5,000 on a money-making scheme. The show’s executive producers are Jay Longino, Inny Clemons, Justin Killion, Will Gluck, Richard Schwartz, Kevin Mann, Brendan Bragg, Jason Belleville, Rod Grable and Dave Meyers. View photos from the show below.
YouTube announced that the documentary following Paris Hilton, “This is Paris,” will be available starting Sept. 14 on the personality’s YouTube channel. The documentary will take a look at the life of the celebrity,...
- 8/17/2020
- by Eli Countryman
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has picked up Sneakerheads, a six-episode comedy series starring Allen Maldonado and Andrew Bachelor (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before), from creator Jay Longino and Complex Networks. The Netflix original series is set to premiere September 25.
Starring Allen Maldonado and Andrew Bachelor, the series centers around Devin, a former sneakerhead turned stay-at-home dad who gets back in the game only to quickly find himself five G’s in the hole after falling for one of old friend Bobby’s (Bachelor) get-rich-quick schemes. Desperate to get his money back before his wife finds out he’s fallen off the wagon, Devin enlists the help of a ragtag group of fellow shoe lovers on his global hunt for the elusive “Zeroes,” the holy grail of hard-to-find kicks.
Cast also includes Jearnest Corchado, Matthew Josten, Yaani King Mondschein, Justin Lee, and Aja Evans.
Longino created the...
Starring Allen Maldonado and Andrew Bachelor, the series centers around Devin, a former sneakerhead turned stay-at-home dad who gets back in the game only to quickly find himself five G’s in the hole after falling for one of old friend Bobby’s (Bachelor) get-rich-quick schemes. Desperate to get his money back before his wife finds out he’s fallen off the wagon, Devin enlists the help of a ragtag group of fellow shoe lovers on his global hunt for the elusive “Zeroes,” the holy grail of hard-to-find kicks.
Cast also includes Jearnest Corchado, Matthew Josten, Yaani King Mondschein, Justin Lee, and Aja Evans.
Longino created the...
- 8/17/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Lex Scott Davis and Shamier Anderson have been added to the cast of A Lot of Nothing, joining Y’lan Noel, who Davis co-starred alongside in The First Purge, as well as Cleopatra Coleman (The Last Man on Earth). Mo McRae is at the helm as a first-time feature director with Emmy and Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo on board as an executive producer.
The plot, written by McRae and Sarah Kelly Kaplan, follows a married couple living in a Los Angeles suburb who is compelled to take dangerous actions when they discover their next-door neighbor is the police officer that just murdered an unarmed motorist.
More from DeadlineLex Scott Davis Joins ABC's Erin Brockovich-Inspired Drama Pilot 'Rebel''The Last Man on Earth' Alum Cleopatra Coleman Set To Co-Lead 'A Lot Of Nothing' Movie'Insecure' & 'The First Purge's Y'lan Noel To Star In 'A Lot Of Nothing' Thriller
Davis will play Candy,...
The plot, written by McRae and Sarah Kelly Kaplan, follows a married couple living in a Los Angeles suburb who is compelled to take dangerous actions when they discover their next-door neighbor is the police officer that just murdered an unarmed motorist.
More from DeadlineLex Scott Davis Joins ABC's Erin Brockovich-Inspired Drama Pilot 'Rebel''The Last Man on Earth' Alum Cleopatra Coleman Set To Co-Lead 'A Lot Of Nothing' Movie'Insecure' & 'The First Purge's Y'lan Noel To Star In 'A Lot Of Nothing' Thriller
Davis will play Candy,...
- 3/31/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Cleopatra Coleman, who co-starred in Fox’s The Last Man on Earth comedy series, has secured the lead role opposite Y’lan Noel (Insecure) in Mo McRae’s directorial debut film A Lot Of Nothing, which has David Oyelowo attached as an executive producer.
It’s about a married couple living in a Los Angeles suburb who is compelled to take dangerous actions when they discover their next-door neighbor is the police officer that just murdered an unarmed motorist.
The thriller, from Mansa Productions, was penned by McRae and Sarah Kelly Kaplan. Coleman will play Vanessa, wife to James Franklin (Noel), whose actions set in motion an escalating crisis, jeopardizing the lives and freedom of the officer and her family.
Slated to begin filming next month, the pic is produced by Inny Clemons, McRae, Anonymous Content, Mansa Productions founder Kellon Akeem, and Jason Tamasco of Bad Idea. Yandy Smith, Kim Hodgert,...
It’s about a married couple living in a Los Angeles suburb who is compelled to take dangerous actions when they discover their next-door neighbor is the police officer that just murdered an unarmed motorist.
The thriller, from Mansa Productions, was penned by McRae and Sarah Kelly Kaplan. Coleman will play Vanessa, wife to James Franklin (Noel), whose actions set in motion an escalating crisis, jeopardizing the lives and freedom of the officer and her family.
Slated to begin filming next month, the pic is produced by Inny Clemons, McRae, Anonymous Content, Mansa Productions founder Kellon Akeem, and Jason Tamasco of Bad Idea. Yandy Smith, Kim Hodgert,...
- 2/22/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Y’lan Noel has been tapped to star in A Lot Of Nothing, the directorial debut feature from Mo McRae.
The Mansa Productions thriller, which was co-written by McRae and Sarah Kelly Kaplan, follows a couple living in a Los Angeles suburb who are compelled to take dangerous actions when they discover their next-door neighbor is the police officer that just murdered an unarmed motorist.
Noel, who will soon be seen in Universal’s Stella Meghie-helmed romance drama, The Photograph, will play the husband James Franklin, whose wife, Vanessa, takes vigilante justice into her own hands.
Filming is slated to commence in the spring. Inny Clemons, McRae, Anonymous Content, Mansa Productions founder Kellon Akeem, and Jason Tamasco of Bad Idea are producing the project. Executive producers are David Oyelowo, Mansa’s Yandy Smith, Kim Hodgert and Nina Soriano of Anonymous Content as well as...
The Mansa Productions thriller, which was co-written by McRae and Sarah Kelly Kaplan, follows a couple living in a Los Angeles suburb who are compelled to take dangerous actions when they discover their next-door neighbor is the police officer that just murdered an unarmed motorist.
Noel, who will soon be seen in Universal’s Stella Meghie-helmed romance drama, The Photograph, will play the husband James Franklin, whose wife, Vanessa, takes vigilante justice into her own hands.
Filming is slated to commence in the spring. Inny Clemons, McRae, Anonymous Content, Mansa Productions founder Kellon Akeem, and Jason Tamasco of Bad Idea are producing the project. Executive producers are David Oyelowo, Mansa’s Yandy Smith, Kim Hodgert and Nina Soriano of Anonymous Content as well as...
- 2/11/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Summit is coming up for some Air.
The studio has acquired worldwide rights to "Next Day Air," an action comedy that had been at Paramount, and will release it domestically in May.
Scott Aronson's Melee Entertainment produced the film and co-financed it with Par, which, when it was nearly complete, opted not to release it as part of a larger decision to orient its slate toward bigger tentpole pictures.
"It's the kind of movie that I think if done right can be really profitable," Aronson said. "Paramount decided it didn't want to be in the business of smaller films, but we think Summit is the perfect fit for it."
Mike Epps, Donald Faison, Wood Harris and Mos Def star in the picture, which centers on an illicit package that ends up at the wrong apartment, setting off a set of comedic chain reactions. Music video director Benny Boom helmed...
The studio has acquired worldwide rights to "Next Day Air," an action comedy that had been at Paramount, and will release it domestically in May.
Scott Aronson's Melee Entertainment produced the film and co-financed it with Par, which, when it was nearly complete, opted not to release it as part of a larger decision to orient its slate toward bigger tentpole pictures.
"It's the kind of movie that I think if done right can be really profitable," Aronson said. "Paramount decided it didn't want to be in the business of smaller films, but we think Summit is the perfect fit for it."
Mike Epps, Donald Faison, Wood Harris and Mos Def star in the picture, which centers on an illicit package that ends up at the wrong apartment, setting off a set of comedic chain reactions. Music video director Benny Boom helmed...
- 2/11/2009
- by By Steven Zeitchik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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