HBO is developing Unruly , a six-part limited series about boxing legend Jack Johnson to be played by two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali . The project hails from Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone and will be written by Dominique Morisseau based the PBS documentary Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, produced and directed by Ken Burns , and its companion book by Geoffrey C. Ward. Ali has stated multiple times over the past couple of years that playing Johnson on screen is his “dream role.” He previously portrayed the athletein one of his first professional acting jobs in a stage production of “The Great White Hope” in 2000 (photo above). Unruly is described as an unapologetically Black, no-holds-barred telling of Jack Johnson (Ali), the world’s first Black Heavyweight Boxing Champion. This bold exploration depicts the champion’s rise to athletic greatness and the costs he paid for his skin and defiance, which created a … [Read more...] about Mahershala Ali To Star As Boxer Jack Johnson In ‘Unruly’ HBO Limited Series In Works From Dominique Morisseau & Playtone
Tony winner
Actors’ Equity Disputes Strike’s Impact On Michael Jackson Musical’s Canceled Chicago Staging – Update
Update, with Equity statement Actors’ Equity isn’t shouldering the blame for the cancellation of a pre- Broadway engagement of the new Michael Jackson jukebox musical, saying any delays caused by the recent Equity strike were “modest.” “It’s incredibly disappointing that the actors and stage managers who are currently working to develop this project were not informed about a major production change before a public media announcement was made,” said Brandon Lorenz, Communications Director, Actors’ Equity Association in a statement. “The developmental lab that was scheduled for this production was delayed by 12 working days during the strike. It is difficult to understand how a modest delay in February would impact a run that was scheduled for late October.” Earlier today, producers for Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough canceled a pre-Broadway engagement in Chicago , blaming “scheduling difficulties” caused by the recently ended Actors’ Equity strike. Don’t Stop … [Read more...] about Actors’ Equity Disputes Strike’s Impact On Michael Jackson Musical’s Canceled Chicago Staging – Update
Broadway-Bound Michael Jackson Bio-Musical Gets Title And Chicago Dates
The previously announced Michael Jackson stage musical has gotten a name and a pre- Broadway premiere date: The newly titled Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough will begin performances in Chicago on October 29. The musical, inspired by the life of the late King of Pop and featuring a book by Lynn Nottage , will run through December 1 at Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre (formerly the Oriental Theatre). Playwright Nottage has won two Pulitzer Prizes for drama, the first in 2009 for Ruined and the second in 2017 for Sweat . The title and date was announced today by producers the Michael Jackson Estate and Columbia Live Stage. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough is set to arrive on Broadway in 2020. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – currently in development and named after the hit song from Jackson’s classic 1979 album Off The Wall – will include a score consisting of Jackson songs. Christopher Wheeldon, a 2015 Tony Award winner for An American in Paris ‘ … [Read more...] about Broadway-Bound Michael Jackson Bio-Musical Gets Title And Chicago Dates
‘Blood And Judgment’ Doc On America’s Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate Tommy Zeigler In Works From Left/Right, ‘Monk’s Andy Breckman
EXCLUSIVE : America’s longest-serving death row inmate, Tommy Zeigler , and his fight for exoneration after nearly 50 years behind bars on a murder conviction, are getting the documentary treatment courtesy of award-winning directors David Van Taylor ( A Perfect Candidate ) and Marlon Johnson (River City Drumbeat ). Producers on the film, Blood and Judgment (w/t), include Andy Breckman — the four-time Emmy nominee known for creating the hit USA Network comedy series, Monk — and Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver from Left/Right , a North Road company ( The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears ). Blood and Judgment asks whether Zeigler is a criminal mastermind, or the victim of an ingenious frame-up. Its story is thrust into motion on Christmas Eve 1975, as a multiple homicide unfolds in a locked furniture store outside of Orlando, Florida. Amid the chaotic, bloody crime scene — four bodies, eight guns, 28 bullets — a young detective soon settles … [Read more...] about ‘Blood And Judgment’ Doc On America’s Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate Tommy Zeigler In Works From Left/Right, ‘Monk’s Andy Breckman
Michael Lehrer Dies: Second City Alum Was 44
Michael Lehrer , a sketch, improv and stand-up performer whose credits included The Second City , has died of complications of ALS. He was 44. Lehrer kept performing even after his 2017 diagnosis, appearing in Austin, Texas clubs in a wheelchair. He talked openly about his struggles with the disease on stage and on the comedy podcast Kill Tony. Lehrer was selected as a New Face of Comedy for the 2014 Just for Laughs Festival. He helped create four original sketch revues for The Second City, including the Jeff Award winner for Best Revue, Sky’s The Limit (Weather Permitting) . He also logged time in The Second City Touring Company, Second City’s Las Vegas outpost, and as part of Second City at sea on Norwegian Cruise Line. During his time at Second City Las Vegas, Michael would regularly attend Las Vegas City Council meetings in open forum sessions to offer his “opinions” on a variety of topics. Famously, on his last night at The Second City e.t.c., he hired a … [Read more...] about Michael Lehrer Dies: Second City Alum Was 44
‘Super Bowl Greatest Commercials: Battle Of The Decades’ Interactive Special Set At CBS & Paramount+
EXCLUSIVE: It’s that time of year again. Super Bowl Greatest Commercials: Battle of the Decades , an annual interactive special where viewers vote for their favorite Super Bowl commercial of all time, will air Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 8 PM ET/PT on CBS and will stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Hosted by Boomer Esiason, analyst for CBS Sports’ The NFL Today and Daniela Ruah, star of CBS’ NCIS: Los Angeles, the special airs from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and State Farm Stadium, site of Super Bowl LVII in Arizona. In the special, now in its 22 nd year, Esiason and Ruah will spotlight their all-time favorite commercials in each decade before selecting their individual picks for the greatest Super Bowl commercial in the last four decades. Viewers will then crown the winner, chosen from the top two finalists in the live vote, which will be revealed at the end of the show. The special will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at the most classic and … [Read more...] about ‘Super Bowl Greatest Commercials: Battle Of The Decades’ Interactive Special Set At CBS & Paramount+
‘A Quiet Place: Day One’: Alex Wolff To Reteam With ‘Pig’s Michael Sarnoski On Paramount Spin-Off
Alex Wolff ( Hereditary ) will reteam with Pig filmmaker Michael Sarnoski on Paramount Pictures ’ A Quiet Place: Day One , Deadline can confirm. He’s set to star alongside Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and Stranger Things breakout Joseph Quinn. Day One is the third film in the blockbuster franchise A Quiet Place , launched with the 2018 pop culture sensation directed by and starring John Krasinski, which grossed over $340MM at the worldwide box office and was recognized with nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and elsewhere recognizing its crafts. Details as to the film’s plot are under wraps, though the original and its Krasinski-directed 2020 sequel A Quiet Place Part II introduced a post-apocalyptic world overrun by blind monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing that had one ordinary family struggling to survive in silence. Sarnoski will direct A Quiet Place: Day One from his script written with Jeff Nichols, which is based on an … [Read more...] about ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’: Alex Wolff To Reteam With ‘Pig’s Michael Sarnoski On Paramount Spin-Off
‘Room’ Broadway Adaptation To Star Adrienne Warren, Announces Spring Opening
Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren will star in the Broadway American premiere of Room , written and adapted for the stage by Emma Donoghue, based on her 2010 best-selling novel which she also adapted into the award-winning 2015 film. The production, featuring songs and music by Scottish songwriters Kathryn Joseph and Cora Bissett and directed by Bissett, will open Monday, April 17 at the James Earl Jones Theatre, with previews beginning on April 3. The limited engagement will run through September 17. Additional casting will be announced in coming weeks. “I am truly honored for the opportunity to return to Broadway in a project unlike anything I’ve done before,” said Warren, who won the Tony for her performance as the title character in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical. “There were many reasons I wanted to join this team in telling this story, but most importantly, I wanted to share this beautifully human bond between a mother and her son. This is for all the little Jack’s … [Read more...] about ‘Room’ Broadway Adaptation To Star Adrienne Warren, Announces Spring Opening
Oscar Nominations Analysis: Blockbusters, Acclaimed Indies, A Couple Of Surprises, Elvis & Marilyn Liven Up Mostly Predictable List
A commenter named Brad replied to an Oscar predictions piece I put up over the weekend and said: “There used to be a time when I anticipated the Oscar Nominations. But I feel that time has not been good to the Academy Awards and with so many awards ceremonies these days, the Oscars do not seem special like they once did.” He has a point, as did Cate Blanchett when, during her Critics Choice Award acceptance speech , she wished for the “televised awards horserace” to end and everyone be declared a winner. There is so much noise, so many precursor groups handing out awards that the Oscar nominations look more often like a rubber stamp these days, even if it clearly remains the only film award truly coveted. At 95 years old, it still will be the first line in any winner or nominee’s obit. But looking at today’s list of nominees , particularly Best Picture, can we say that any of them are actually surprising? Stunners? Shockers? Are any of them not the names we … [Read more...] about Oscar Nominations Analysis: Blockbusters, Acclaimed Indies, A Couple Of Surprises, Elvis & Marilyn Liven Up Mostly Predictable List
Steven Spielberg On ‘Fabelmans’ Oscar Noms, His First Screenplay Nod, ‘Indiana Jones’ & Why Theatrical B.O. “Will Come Back”
Steven Spielberg ’s autobiopic The Fabelmans notched seven Oscar nominations today including Best Picture and the filmmaker’s ninth directing nod. And while Spielberg already counts three Oscar wins –two for directing Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List and Best Picture for the latter– today the blockbuster filmmaker of Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park celebrated his first screenplay nomination ever, in the original category, for The Fabelmans . “I just recently turned 76, where they say, ‘What’s left to accomplish?’ I suddenly get nominated for the first time in my career by the Academy as a co-author of Best screenplay — it made me feel like all those English and creative writing classes paid off!” While Lincoln scribe, Tony Kushner, encouraged Spielberg to start putting his memories down on paper, the project didn’t come to life until after the death of the Jaws director’s parents, plus the onset of the pandemic. That long delay for The … [Read more...] about Steven Spielberg On ‘Fabelmans’ Oscar Noms, His First Screenplay Nod, ‘Indiana Jones’ & Why Theatrical B.O. “Will Come Back”