Small Screen: New Strides In Streaming As Disney’s ‘Ms. Marvel’ Assembles Its Directing Team & Netflix Expands Its Lineup Of Nigerian Content
Diamond White - Paul Archuleta / Stringer
Broadcast: NBC is moving forward with the development of Gbenga Akinnagbe’s Lewisburg, having agreed to a script commitment plus penalty. The upcoming series follows a promising young athlete whose talents help him to get out of East Baltimore and onto a prominent collegiate wrestling team in central Pennsylvania, where must deal with issues of race, class and entering into a long-standing system. Bridging the gap between character and creator, the series is based on Akinnagbe’s own life, as the actor himself earned a wrestling scholarship to Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Developed by Akinnagbe- who will also write for the series- and Corinne Brinkerhoff- who will act as showrunner- the prospective series will be executive produced by Akinnagbe, Brinkerhoff, Rideback’s Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore and Thinking Hat’s Craig Turk. Lewisburg comes from the Rideback/Thinking Hat Campfire writer’s room program, of which Akinnagbe is a participant for this year, and is to be produced by CBS TV Studios in conjunction with Rideback and Thinking Hat.
Diamond White has joined the cast of CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful in the new role of Paris Buckingham, the sister of already-existing character Zoe (Kiara Barnes). White- who is best known for roles in major series such as Empire, Dear White People and Fresh Off the Boat- began filming for the soap on September 18 and is expected to make her onscreen debut November 2.
NBCUniversal has named Janine Jones-Clark as its new Executive Vice President, Inclusion – Talent and Content for NBCU Film, Television and Streaming. In her new role, Jones-Clark will work to expand diversity in-front-of and behind the camera for Universal Studio Group- which includes Universal Television, Universal Cable Productions and NBCUniversal International Studios- as well as for other NBCUniversal-owned entities, including Peacock, NBC, USA Network, SYFY, E!, Bravo, Oxygen and Universal Kids. Moving up from her previous position as Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s (UFEG) Head of Inclusion – Talent and Content, the executive will continue in her responsibilities for expanding diversity and inclusion for UFEG alongside her new role with NBCU. In addition, Jones-Clark will also oversee the Talent Infusion Programs for NBC and Universal Television, as well as programs for Universal Cable Productions.
Harvey Guillén has been cast in a recurring role for the upcoming second season of NBC’s Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. As George, Guillén’s character will play a prominent role in a multi-episode story arc as a programmer who dedicates a considerable focus on gaining the approval of his colleagues, and especially Zoey (Jane Levy). Season 2 of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is set to premier sometime in 2021.
RKim Myung-min, yu Hye-young, Kim Bum, and Lee Jung-eun
Cable: Kim Bum, Lee Jung-eun, Kim Myung-min and Ryu Hye-young are all set to star in the upcoming JTBC drama Law School. Centered around a campus-wide mystery involving both students and professors from Korea’s most prestigious law university, Ryu and Kim Bum will play first-year law students who come from different backgrounds, with Kim Myung-min starring as a former prosecutor and current criminal law professor and Lee as a former judge-turned-professor. Directed by Kim Suk-yoon with writing from Seo In, Law School is slated to premier during the first half of 2021.
HBO has announced plans to develop Thirst, a new series that weaves together a story about hip-hop and vampires, written by Leah Benavides Rodriguez and Carlito Rodriguez. Set in Atlanta, an up-and-coming rapper feels that he is on the brink of stardom after joining one of the biggest groups in hip-hop; the catch, however, is that this group is really a family of centuries-old vampires. In a joint statement, the writing duo called Thirst “the perfect opportunity to blend genres, while exploring the intersection of fame, culture and what it means to be American.” Coming from Macro Television Studios, Benavides Rodriguez and Rodriguez will also act as showrunners and will executive produce alongside Kevin Jordan, who developed the series’ original concept, Blue Monday Productions’ Ben Watkins, The 51’s Malcolm Spellman and Nichelle Tramble Spellman and Macro’s Charles D. King and Marta Fernandez; in addition, Fernandez and Greta Fuentes of Macro will provide oversight for the new series.
Power Book II: Ghost, has been renewed for a second season on Starz after debuting to the accolade of becoming the premium channel’s most-watched new series. Created by showrunner Courtney A. Kemp and executive produced by Kemp and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, the first season of the hit Power spinoff will go into hiatus after its October 4 mid-season finale; Starz has yet to announce a return date to close out the series’ first season.
OWN is set to develop The Kings of Napa, a new drama series centered on the Kings, a prominent family of socialites who owe their fortune to their massive success in the wine industry. When the King family patriarch abruptly leaves the company, his three children fight for the position of heir apparent, aspiring to gain access to the wealth and status that comes with being at the helm of the business. Executive produced by showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois under her overall deal with Warner Bros. Television alongside Michelle Listenbee Brown, the upcoming series is a co-production between Warner Bros. Television and Harpo Films.
Streaming: Kyle Massey, Keraun Harris, Philip Bolden, Aaron Grady and Teresa Celeste are all set to star in Millennials, a new multi-camera comedy series for UMC. Set in Los Angeles, the series follows four roommates in their 20s and their neighbor from across the hall as they navigate young adulthood in a big city. As Omar, Massey stars as a business student and aspiring corporate professional, while Harris’ Jaheem is a personal trainer whose line of work doubles as a job and dating ground. Craving fame and attention, Travis (Bolden) is an aspiring YouTuber, contrasted with Todd (Grady), a college dropout who struggles to find himself as a responsible adult with consistent employment. As the only woman in this group of friends, Atlanta native and aspiring actress Mercedes (Celeste) is often tasked with taking on the role of the group’s sole voice of reason. Tanjareen Thomas, Buddy Lewis and Katherine Florence will also star in the upcoming series. Created by Rugg Williams and Oren Williams and directed by Bentley Kyle Evans, Millennials is slated for an early 2021 premier.
AMC recently released the official trailer for its new series Gangs of London. Following the assassination of London’s most powerful mobster, the series centers on several international gangs as they become embroiled in a brutal struggle for power and control. The series- which has already been renewed for a second season- stars Joe Cole, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Colm Meaney, Lucian Msamati and Michelle Fairley. The ten-episode first season of Gangs of London is now available for streaming audiences exclusively on AMC Plus, AMC’s premium streaming platform.
Disney+ has officially confirmed the directing team for its upcoming series Ms. Marvel, featuring the artistic visions of Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Meera Menon. Set to join Marvel’s cinematic slate as its first onscreen Muslim hero, the series focuses on Ms. Marvel, the heroic identity of Kamala Khan, a Pakistani American teenager from New Jersey. While Disney has yet to settle on a star for the series, the studio has already confirmed that the character will eventually be incorporated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Created in 2014, Ms. Marvel became the comic franchise’s first Muslim hero to have her own title.
Netflix has announced plans to expand its production of Nigerian original content, including a new series and three films. The currently untitled series comes from Inkblot Productions and follows teenage artist Ishaya after a scholarship to the country’s most prestigious school lifts him out of poverty and into the world of the Nigerian elite, all while a damaging secret looms over his head and threatens to destroy his newfound fortune. Created by Chinaza Onuzo and Dami Elebe (who will also act as the series’ head writer), the upcoming production includes a directing team of Onuzo, Tope Oshin and Niyi Akinmolayan and will be executive produced by Onuzo, Zulumoke Oyibo and Damola Ademola. In addition to the new series, the streaming service will also premier Mo Adubu’s Òlòtūré on October 2, Kunle Afolayan’s Citation on November 6 and Kemi Adetiba’s King of Boys II sometime during the first half of 2021. Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s Director of Licensing and Co-Productions in Africa, stated that this new slate of Nigerian content marks their dedication to “building a home for the best-in-class Nigerian content for…members in Nigeria and beyond,” noting the capacity with which “Nigerian films and series resonate with audiences around the world.”
