Small Screen: Onyx Collective Announces First Scripted Series, Kalia Booker King Joins Proximity Media

Martha Higareda - JC Olivera

Broadcast: Fox’s musical drama Monarch has cast Martha Higareda, known for her work on Into The Dark: Culture Shock and Netflix’s Altered Carbon. She will be working alongside Susan Sarandon, Albie Roman, Anna Friel, Trace Adkins and Beth Ditto. She ‘will play Catt Phoenix, the stunning and unpredictable mother of 17- year-old Ana Phoenix, a talented young singer who is trying to get signed to the Roman Family’s record label. Catt harbors a deep-seated grudge against the Romans, Nicky in particular, and her presence creates quite a stir in Austin.’ Monarch debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 30.

Simone Missick - All Rise/OWN

Cable: Sony Pictures Television is joining forces with David Alan Grier to adapt A Soldier’s Play into a limited television series entitled A Soldier’s Story. Grier, who portrays Sgt. Waters in the play, will executive produce and star in the limited series as his character’s father. The series will span multiple wars and several decades, and will center on Sgt. Vernon Waters and the emotional impact he is subjected to as a soldier in the 1940s. ‘The Pulitzer-winning A Soldier’s Play, written by Charles Fuller, is set at a Black army base in the segregated Louisiana of 1944. Sergeant Waters – played on Broadway by Grier in a production directed by Kenny Leon – has been murdered, and Army captain Davenport – played by Blair Underwood – arrives at the base to investigate the crime, which might or might not involve the local KKK or even the many Black soldiers who openly despite their hated sergeant.’

OWN has just resuscitated the legal drama series All Rise. The show, which originally debuted on CBS but was canceled in March following the creator/showrunner, Greg Spottiswood let go for misconduct allegations. All Rise has now been given a 20 - episode third season. It’s star, Simone Missick, will return as the lead. With season three returning in 2022, HBO Max and Hulu will share the streaming rights to the first two seasons and it will premiere on the platforms on December 1st. OWN president TIna Perry had this tp say:“All Rise has been a great performer, achieving strong ratings and growing its share from season one to two. Featuring a strong character front and center, Judge Lola Carmichael’s story reflects our audience with powerful affirmation. A special thanks to Warner Bros. Television and our incredible showrunner and longtime partner Dee Harris-Lawrence. We can’t wait to get started on season three and bring this show back for long-standing and new fans alike.”

Emayatzy Corinealdi - Leon Bennett / Stringer

Streaming: Hugh Howey’s book Wool, is being made into a television series for Apple. Justified‘s Graham Yost is helming the series starring Rashida Jones and David Oyelowo. ‘Wool is set in a ruined and toxic future where a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep. There, men and women live in a society full of regulations they believe are meant to protect them. Oyelowo (Selma) will play Holston, the silo’s sheriff. Jones (#BlackAF) will play Allison, Holston’s wife, who works in IT. They join a cast that also includes star Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette, an independent and hardworking engineer.’

The first scripted series to be developed by the Onyx Collective is entitled Reasonable Doubt. The legal drama will be executive produced by Kerry Washington, Larry Wilmore and writer/exec producer Raamla Mohamed (Scandal, Little Fires Everywhere). Emayatzy Corinealdi (Middle of Nowhere, Ballers) is attached as the lead as a defense attorney. Dana Walden, chairman of Entertainment, Walt Disney Television said this early this year about the Collective: “Our industry is immeasurably enriched by the incredible talents of emerging and established creators of color. Launching Onyx Collective allows us to be the best partners to those creators, providing them with the support they need to do their best work. Tara Duncan is a gifted executive with fantastic instincts. With her leading this talented team, we have the opportunity to tell transformative stories that authentically represent our audience and are essential to our success. We’re building a home where creators of color are inspired, empowered and have unparalleled access to reach audiences around the world. This artist-first approach will make Onyx Collective synonymous with entertaining, brave and bold ideas told from a distinct point of view. I’m humbled by the opportunity and all of the possibilities.” The series will stream on Hulu in 2022.

Kalia Booker King and Ryan Coogler Sharon Suh/David Livingston/Getty Images

Industry: Proximity Media, Ryan Coogler’s production company, has just appointed ex HBO executive Kalia Booker King to run their TV division. Ryan and Zinzi Coogler and Ohanian said in a joint statement “We couldn’t be happier about having Kalia on board to help us scale our television business. We are major fans of her storytelling instincts and her reputation for championing artists. It’s an honor to have her on board at Proximity.” King said this is a statement: “It is an honor to join the Proximity Media Team. I’ve always sought to develop and shepherd transformative content and partnering with one of the most prolific filmmakers of our generation provides a platform and resources to share this vision. I can’t wait to hit the ground running with the incredible Proximity family.”