by blackthespian on February 23, 2012
in Film
Nonso Anozie (The Grey) has been cast to play Sergeant Dap in the film version of Orson Scott Card’s best-selling novel Ender’s Game, reports Deadline.com.
The film is set to begin production this month in New Orleans and the story is a futuristic adventure about brilliant young strategist Ender Wiggins, who is drafted by the International Fleet to save the human race. Gavin Hood (Academy Award winner Totsi) will direct from a script he adapted. In addition to Anozie, Stevie Ray Dallimore (Joyful Noise) has been cast as Ender’s father John and Andrea Powell (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2) joins as Ender’s mother Theresa.
The three star opposite Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, and Asa Butterfield as Ender. Summit Entertainment is co-financing and will release the film domestically March 15, 2013.
[DL]
by blackthespian on February 22, 2012
in For Real?
‘Fresh Prince‘ mama don’t take no mess. Actress Janet Hubert, the actress who portrayed the original ‘Aunt Viv‘ on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air‘ had some very choice and ‘dignified’ words for talk show host Wendy Williams regarding the late Whitney Houston.
If you know the history between Wendy and Whitney, you may or may not agree with Hubert’s letter.
But does Hubert have a point? It’s a long one, so get your spectacles.
[click to continue…]
by blackthespian on February 22, 2012
in TV
She made a recent appearance on Fox’s hit show GLEE as rival coach Grach Hitchens, and now rapper, actress, and fashionista Eve will be making another TV return later this year on the NBC comedy Whitney.
Senior Director of NBC Entertainment Publicity, Tracy St. Pierre, has announced that the episode featuring Eve will air in March.
While speaking to The Grio, St. Pierre said,”Grammy-winning and multi-platinum recording artist, Eve is set to guest star in an upcoming role on NBC’s Whitney. In this episode, Whitney has a confrontation with Eve’s character and comes to realization about her relationship with her boyfriend Alex (played by Chris D’Elia). It all leads to a pivotal moment in the series.”
Eve also confirmed the upcoming episode via her Twitter on February 17.
Eve, who starred in three seasons of her own self-titled show on the UPN network from 2003 to 2006, has taken a hiatus over the past few years from entertainment to focus on herself and other ventures.
Eve is also hard at work on her upcoming album, which will be released this year.
Whitney airs on NBC on Wednesday nights at 8PM EST.
Source: AllHipHop.com
by blackthespian on February 22, 2012
in Theatre
The Dailymail.co.uk reports that R&B soul singer and actress Heather Headley will reprise her role (Whitney Houston’s role in the film version) in The Bodyguard, The Musical.
According to reports on dailymail.co.uk, producers Michael Harrison and David Ian will open The Bodyguard, a musical based on Whitney Houston‘s film of the same name, at London’s Adelphi Theatre in November.
“Thea Sharrock will direct Heather Headley in the role of the rock star Rachel Marron (the part Whitney played). All the songs featured in the movie, including ‘I Will Always Love You’, will be there, and that score will be augmented by a dozen other numbers that Whitney made famous,” dailymail.co.uk reports.
In the 1992 film The Bodyguard, a former secret service agent (Kevin Costner) serves as bodyguard for a mega pop superstar-turned actress (Houston). In the course of protecting the star, they develop a trust and love that is rare for both. The film received Academy(R) and Grammy(R) Award nominations for its songs “I Have Nothing” and “Run to You.”
[via BlackActors.net]
by blackthespian on February 22, 2012
in Film
Oprah Winfrey may return to acting in what would be her first on-screen movie since 1998’s Beloved. Yes, Oprah is seriously considering an offer to co-star in The Butler, Precious director Lee Daniels’ story of Eugene Allen, a black man who worked as butler in the White House, serving eight presidents from 1952 to 1986.
The project was initially set up at Columbia, which picked up Wil Haygood’s 2008 Washington Post story A Butler Well Served by This Election. The project is now being financed independently, with Pamela Williams producing on behalf of Laura Ziskin Productions.
Financing is being still being worked out and no deals have been made, but Daniels has been busy putting together a top-notch cast.
Could this be the beginning of O’s acting comeback?
Read more about it here.
by blackthespian on February 21, 2012
in TV
Pooch Hall of BET’s “The Game” has joined the cast of Showtime’s drama pilot “Ray Donovan,” starring Liev Schreiber.
The project centers on Ray (Schreiber), a professional “fixer” for LA’s rich and famous who can make anyone’s problems disappear, except the ones created by his own family.
Hall will play Daryll, a young fighter who trains at Terry Donovan’s Fite Club, a boxing gym owned by Ray’s brother (Eddie Marsan). Hall is best known for his role as professional football player Derwin Davis on “The Game.” He will continue on the hit BET comedy, but it will be in second position to “Ray Donovan” beyond the current fifth season, reports Deadline.com.
Hall was recently seen in the feature “Jumping The Broom,” directed by “The Game‘s” Salim Akil, and just wrapped the indie “Live at the Fox’s Den.”
