What’s going on in the TV world?
This weekend, Netflix’s The Defenders was finally released. You can check out our review for the first half here. A BGN podcast is coming soon. Earlier in the week it was announced that David Tennant would be returning for season 2 of Jessica Jones. When we last saw Kilgrave, Jessica finally took her control back by literally ending her abuser. What his role in the new season will be is up in the air. Speaking of David Tennant, he will be joining Michael Sheen in Amazon’s six episode adaptation of Good Omens, the book by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
Season 2’s finale of Into the Badlands left a lot of fans angry at the treatment of Veil. It followed a troubling trend of violence against Black women in genre television, one that fans were very vocal about pointing out online. Lorraine Toussaint is now joining the cast for season 3. Her character, Cressida, is described as a prophet and mentor. This has the possibility to sink into a couple of tropes for Black characters including the Magical Negro. Let’s hope the showrunners listened and learned after last season.
‘Into The Badlands’: Lorraine Toussaint Joins As New Regular For Season 3 https://t.co/w4AvnK6nyd pic.twitter.com/Er0hyDA9gF
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) August 15, 2017
Continuing on with the great TV news, Le Bron James’ production company, SpringHill Entertainment is a developing a limited series about Madam C.J. Walker. The series will be based on the book On Her Own Ground by A’Lelia Bundles. Co-executive producers include Nicole Asher, who will also write for the show, and Kasi Lemmons, who will direct the pilot. Hidden Figures’ Octavia Spencer will be part of the project.
Micheal B. Jordan is having an amazing summer. It’s only up from here as Black Panther comes out next year. Now he is teaming up with Moonlight co-writer Tarell Alvin McCraney for a drama series on OWN, home of Ava DuVernay’s Queen Sugar. The series is a coming of age story about a “14-year-old boy, haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty, who must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out.” Based on that description, this looks to be another win for OWN. Finally, USA’s Suits is getting a spin-off. Gina Torres’ Jessica Pearson is leaving New York for Chicago. The season 7 finale will serve as a pilot for her new show.
‘Suits’ Spinoff Starring Gina Torres To Be Introduced In ‘Suits’ Season 7 Finale, Will Be About Chicago Politics https://t.co/sCN2gtN5yp pic.twitter.com/nQdKPE5x4c
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) August 16, 2017
In Movie News…
After the success of Girls Trip, Tiffany Haddish’s star is on the rise. She was just cast opposite Kevin Hart in Night School, a comedy by the same team behind Girls Trip. Continuing its surprising (only to mainstream entertainment media) success, Girls Trip has earned $100 million at the box office. And there’s more Michael B. Jordan news. He could possibly be starring in a remake of the 2005 Korean film A Bittersweet Life. Jennifer Yuh Nelson, best known for director of the Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3 is being eyed for the director.
There has been much speculation about the next stand alone Star Wars film. This week it was revealed that an Obi-Wan Kenobi film is in early development. It’s not sure yet whether or not Ewan McGregor will be returning for the role or what time period the movie will cover. Another report named a possible Jabba the Hutt film. Between the Han Solo film, the highly possible Boba Fett one and now this Jabba the Hutt film, that’s a lot of shared universe to work with.
Casey Affleck recently revealed during a recent interview that his brother would not be playing Batman after Justice League strengthening rumors that have been swirling around the internet for months. Social media took off with the story forcing Ben Affleck’s representatives to finally release the following statement: He’ll continue to be Batman as long as the studio will have him. This story has too much smoke for no fire. Justice League is still set for a November release, despite the extensive reshoots. We’ll see about the future of Batman after that. On the Marvel side of comic book movies, Thor Ragnarok gave us a new photo of Valkyrie and Loki facing off. Expect to see the movie on November 3rd.
Finally, in tragic news, stuntwoman Joi “SJ” Harris died on the set of Deadpool 2 this week during a motorcycle stunt. An experienced motorcyclist, Harris was brought in as the second stuntwoman for Zazie Beetz who plays Domino. This was her first job as a stuntwoman.
If you have anything I missed, email me at mel@blackgirlnerds.com. Check back next Monday for all the exciting news happening next week.
