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On Saturday, August 24, the African American Film Critics Association honored the winners for its sixth annual television awards. Among the list of champions were Emmy nominees “Masters of the Air,” Apple TV+’s limited series about a bomber group during World War II, and Ayo Edebiri, the female star of FX’s cooking dramedy “The Bear.” Wendell Pierce (“Elsbeth”) and Josiah Cross (“Masters of the Air”) were also recognized with trophies. Gold Derby’s associate editor Latasha Ford hit the red carpet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel to chat with the stars, honorees and presenters heading into the ceremony.

See 2024 Aafca TV Awards winners: ‘Masters of the Air,’ Ayo Edebiri, Wendell Pierce …

Watch each Aafca TV Awards red carpet interview by clicking their name below:

Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood: Winners for Best Limited Series/Special (“Genius: MLK/X”)

Nkechi Okoro Carroll: Salute to Excellence Award...

Genius: MLK/X executive producer Reggie Rock Bythewood, in accepting the award for best limited series/special at the 6th Annual African American Film Critics Association (Affca) TV Honors Saturday afternoon, made a political plea to attendees as he and the producing team of the National Geographic series, which includes wife Gina Prince-Bythewood, noted the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s historic meeting in the halls of the U.S. Capitol building in 1964.

“Sixty years later, let’s pick up the baton, let’s organize, let’s elect Vice President Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States,” Bythewood told guests. “And by any means necessary, let’s continue to realize the dream.”

Aafca’s TV Honors was held Saturday at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in the same ballroom where the Academy Awards were first held 95 years ago. The association presented a total of...

Exclusive: Non-profit Humanitas on Friday announced the five fellows selected for its 2024 New Voices Fellowship, and the awardees of its Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Award and the David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Award.

Recipients of the New Voices Fellowship, a six-month mentorship program for emerging television and screenwriters, include Aj Currie, Lucas Miller, George Pérez, Mads Summerfield, and Kim Lee Winslow. As fellows, they will each be paired with acclaimed screenwriters for one-on-one mentorship focused on polishing a script submitted for fellowship consideration. Past mentors have included Jenny Bicks, Scott Z. Burns, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Steven Canals, Marissa Jo Cerar, Robb Chavis, Tom Fontana, Hart Hanson, Winnie Holzman, Jason Katims, Bill Lawrence, David Shore, Charise Castro Smith, Robin Swicord, and many more.

Fellows will also each receive a $7,500 stipend, a three-month membership to MasterClass, headshots and a free course from UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, and take part in a...

Netflix is eyeing a return to Hillman College.

The streamer is in the early stages of development on a sequel series to A Different World, the 1987-93 NBC sitcom that was set at a historically Black university. The new project would center on the youngest daughter of Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), now a student at Hillman.

Netflix declined to comment.

The potential sequel comes from writer Felicia Pride (Grey’s Anatomy, Queen Sugar) and includes several members of the original show’s creative team, among them producer and director Debbie Allen, Tom Werner (whose Carsey-Werner produced A Different World), and writers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood. They’ll all serve as executive producers on the project, along with Pride and Mandy Summers.

A Different World was a spinoff of The Cosby Show, following Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) to college at Hillman. Bill Cosby (who is not...

Meet the dealmakers and litigators who made the cut for THR‘s 18th annual list of the entertainment industry’s most powerful legal advocates. These 100 standouts — listed alphabetically along with their practice area, firm and law school alma mater — negotiate the pacts and fight the battles that keep the cameras rolling.

James Adams

Talent

Schreck Rose

Cornell

John Krasinski re-upped his multiyear first-look deal at Paramount (in addition to releasing If and acting in the upcoming heist film Fountain of Youth). It also was a big year for clients Kevin Hart (he’s filming Peacock’s Fight Night ) and Natasha Lyonne, whose series Poker Face was renewed at Peacock and whose production company, Animal Pictures, just signed a deal with Cindy Holland-led Sister.

My guilty TV pleasure “Below Deck.”

Michael Auerbach

Talent

Jackoway Austen

NYU

Client David Corenswet nabbed the role of Superman in James Gunn’s reboot; showrunner...

The Mouse House is bringing its Emmy-themed “Disney FYC Fest” back for the third consecutive year, kicking things off May 29 with an preview event for FX’s “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” and ending with “Shōgun” on June 11. And like last year, it’s back at the DGA Theatre in Hollywood.

Besides “Feud,” the two-week run will include events for shows including “Abbott Elementary,” “Ahsoka,” “Dancing with The Stars,” “Fargo,” “Genius: MLK/X,” “The Golden Bachelor,” “The Kardashians,” “Life & Beth,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “Quiz Lady,” “Shōgun,” “Under The Bridge,” “Vanderpump Villa,” “We Were The Lucky Ones” and “What We Do In The Shadows.”

The Disney FYC Fest installments will be available when the event officially opens on June 1 with “Fargo.” Like last year, costume and memorabilia displays, along with social media photo opps, will be installed in the DGA lobby. Among them: a jumbo-sized replica of Truman Capote...

Sundance Institute has announced the 2024 Directors, Screenwriters, and Native Labs fellows.

The Native Lab takes place in person in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from April 29–May 4 and will support four fellows and two artists in residence. The Lab focuses on centring Indigeneity in the storytelling of participants from Native and Indigenous backgrounds and will work on feature film and episodic scripts through one-on-one feedback sections and roundtable discussions with advisors.

The fellows are: Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan (writer-director) with Hum (Phil-usa); Ryland Walker Knight (writer-director) with The Lip Of The World (USA); Charine Pilar Gonzales (writer-director) with Ndn Time (USA...

Sundance Institute announced today the fellows selected for the 2024 Directors, Screenwriters, and Native Labs. The Native Lab in New Mexico will support four fellows and two artists in residence, and the Directors Lab in Colorado will support the development of eight projects with nine fellows, with an additional three fellows also joining for the online Screenwriters Lab held immediately after.

For over four decades, Sundance Institute’s signature labs have provided filmmakers a nurturing, immersive environment to develop their projects and refine their artistic voice under the guidance of accomplished creative advisors.

The 2024 Native Lab, taking place in person in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from April 29–May 4, is designed for participants of Native and Indigenous backgrounds and focuses on centering Indigeneity in their storytelling. Fellows will build community and refine their feature film and episodic scripts through one-on-one feedback sections and roundtable discussions with advisors. Four fellows were selected: three who are U.

Executive producers Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood and co-showrunners Raphael Jackson Jr. and Damione Macedon were at Deadline’s Contenders TV event Saturday to discuss the historical importance of showing Black stories onscreen in the latest season National Geographic’s anthology series Genius.

Season 4 focuses on Civil Rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin Harrison) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre) from their formative years, molded by their fathers and racial injustices, to their legendary careers that changed the world.

Undoubtedly, there have been copious amounts of media and examinations on the lives of X and King, the two most pivotal figures in fighting against racial injustices and prejudice. However, Jackson and Macedon went undeterred in trying to find a new way to tell their story in Genius MLK/X.

“We gathered a multitude of historians and people who knew either Martin or Malcolm to give us the behind-the-scenes insight as...

Swagger is a sports drama in the Apple TV+ series created by Reggie Rock Bythewood. Loosely inspired by the real-life experiences of NBA player Kevin Durant, the Apple TV+ series explores the world of youth basketball through the players and their families and all the people involved in making the youngster’s dream come true. Swagger stars Solomon Irama, Tessa Ferrer, Quvenzhané Wallis, Shinelle Azoroh, O’Seah Jackson Jr., Caleel Harris, Tristan Wilds, Isaiah Hill, James Bingham, and Ozie Nzeribe. So, if you loved Swagger and all of its drama and a look into the world of sports here are some similar shows you should check out next.

All American (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – The CW

Inspired by the real-life of pro football player Spencer Paysinger, All American is a sports drama that will show you the story behind the legend just like Swagger did. Created by April Blair,...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the Grammys.

Curb Your Enthusiasm premiere

Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman and J.B. Smoove attended the L.A. premiere event for Curb‘s 12th and final season on Tuesday, alongside guest stars including Ted Danson, Jon Hamm and Vince Vaughn.

Jeff Garlin, Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Susie Essman, Amy Gravitt, Jeff Schaffer, J. B. Smoove and Laura Streicher Ted Danson Kyla Weber and Vince Vaughn

Mr. & Mrs. Smith premiere

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine debuted their new Prime Video series on Wednesday in NYC, alongside costars Parker Posey, John Turturro, Michaela Coel and Eiza González.

Donald Glover, Jen Salke, Maya Erskine and Francesca Sloane Eiza González and Michaela Coel

Republic Records party

On Wednesday, Patrón el Alto...

Portraying venerated Civil Rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X is a tall order for anyone, but Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Chevalier) and Aaron Pierre (The Underground Railroad) certainly rise to the occasion in National Geographic’s powerful anthology Genius: MLK/X from Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood.

The eight-episode limited series, which premiered the first two episodes on Thursday, offers an intimate look at both men as husbands, fathers and eventual leaders of the Movement. Harrison and Pierre, who play King and Malcolm X respectively, deftly handle the intimidating task with a thoughtfulness and confidence that...

On February 1, 2024, National Geographic premiered the fourth season of “Genius,” which centers on two icons of the civil rights movement: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. “Genius: MLK/X” stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre in the titular roles, with a supporting cast that includes Weruche Opia, Jayme Lawson, Jalyn Hall and the late Ron Cephas Jones.

The limited series puts an intense focus on the formative years of Martin and Malcolm, showing how their experiences and relationships as young children and teens shaped and influenced the iconic figures they would become. Malcolm’s release from prison and Martin’s graduation from Boston University begin their respective journeys that will one day change the nation, but also begin a budding rivalry.

Executive produced by Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, the pilot episode is written by playwright Jeff Stetson (“The Meeting”) and directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples.

Towering civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, both assassinated at the age of 39, met briefly on March 26, 1964 at the U.S. Capitol, where they were both present in support of the passage of the Civil Rights Act. While their paths intersected only once before their untimely deaths, the Nat Geo series “Genius: MLK/X” presents their extraordinary lives in tandem, despite their famously opposing ideologies.

“So often we’re told you have to choose between Martin and Malcolm: Who do you identify with? Who do you want to follow?” executive producer Gina Prince-Bythewood said during a post-screening conversation at the “MLK/X” premiere on Jan. 29. “But we knew that they were both integral to the movement. They both had the same goal — they just said different means of going about it. And the more that we got into the research, we realized how close they were...

The premiere of National Geographic’s “Genius: MLK/X” was held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles on Monday, January 29. Following a star-studded red carpet and screening of the first episode titled “Graduation,” a panel was hosted by civil rights advocate and law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw. Panelists included executive producers Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Brian Grazer, actors Kelvin Harrison Jr., Weruche Opia (Coretta Scott King), Aaron Pierre (Malolm X), Jayme Lawson (Betty Shabazz), showrunners Raphael Jackson Jr. and Damione Madedon, director Channing Godfrey Peoples and writer Jeff Stetson. Read the partial transcript from the event below.

Episode 1 (“Graduation”) is an intense focus on the formative years of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and their experiences and relationships as young children and teens that shape and influence the iconic figures they would become. Malcolm’s release from prison and King’s graduation from Boston University...

Fresh off an acclaimed performance as the Chevalier de Saint-Georges in “Chevalier,” Kelvin Harrison Jr. takes on the mantle of another historic figure, Martin Luther King Jr., in the new season of “Genius.” But unlike past installments of this National Geographic anthology series which have focused on Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso and Aretha Franklin, this season centers on King and Malcolm X, played by Aaron Pierre. Watch the official trailer for “Genius: MLK/X” above; the first episodes air on February 1.

The trailer begins by showing the only time King and Malcolm X ever met, which took place in 1964 in Washington, D.C.. The eight-episode season follows the two icons from their adolescence through to their assassinations, drawing out the parallels in their journeys as they both “fight against oppression.” The show will shine a spotlight not only on their public struggles and triumphs, but also their family lives and...

Revered civil rights movement leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre) come together in the full trailer for Genius: MLK/X, which was released on Thursday.

The above sneak peek depicts a chance meeting between both icons while waiting for a press conference on March 26, 1964. Both men had ventured to Washington D.C. to hear the Senate debate on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The encounter only lasted a minute, and they never saw each other again.

More from TVLineGiancarlo Esposito Takes the Wheel in New Trailer for AMC's Parish - Plus,...

In real life, Black civil rights pioneers Martin Luther King and Malcolm X met only once, briefly, in Washington, D.C., in 1964 as both attended a Senate debate.

And the trailer for Disney’s Genius: MLK/X docuseries, which dropped Thursday, opens with that chance Capitol Hill encounter that foreshadowed their dueling movements and personalities.

“We meet at last,” Malcolm X declares as the two black leaders shake hands, while in those years from the church pulpit, prison cells and elsewhere they worked to advance racial equality with competing movements: King favoring nonviolent activism as part of his civil rights struggle, and Muslim leader Malcolm X opting for Black empowerment and self-determination to battle against white supremacy.

Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Disney plans two episodes to bow weekly on National Geographic from Feb. 1, and to then stream on Disney+ and Hulu the day after.

The eight-part...

“The Jennifer Hudson Show” has been renewed for a third season by the Fox TV Stations and Hearst TV groups, giving it a go for fall 2024. Also on the daytime talker front, “The Drew Barrymore Show” has been renewed for Season 5 on CBS Stations.

The Hudson news was announced Friday by Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group; David Decker, President of Content Sales, Warner Bros. Discovery; and Frank Cicha, Executive Vice President of Programming for Fox Television Stations. Earlier this week, the Barrymore news was announced by Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures.

“The Jennifer Hudson Show” has averaged 4.4 million total P2+ weekly viewers in its second season, according to Warner Bros., and was nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards in 2023 (including Outstanding Daytime Talk Series).

“There is nothing I love more than watching people come together in positivity...

The Paramount Pictures adaptation of the hit YA book “Children of Blood and Bone” is taking another step toward the big screen, with Gina Prince-Bythewood signing on to direct.

Prince-Bythewood will develop the next pass of a draft penned by author Tomi Adeyemi.

The action fantasy novel follows heroine Zélie Adebola, who belongs to a class of magic practicioners know as the maji, as she attempts to restore magic to the kingdom of Orïsha, following the ruling class kosidáns’ brutal suppression of her people.

Rights to the 2018 book by Nigerian American novelist Adeyemi were acquired by Paramount in 2022 after a planned adaptation by Fox2000 and then Disney’s Lucasfilm stalled. Prince-Bythewood will develop another pass of a draft written by Adeyemi, who will also executive produce the film alongside Reggie Rock Bythewood. Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill Entertainment, Karen Rosenfelt of Sunswept Entertainment, and Matt Jackson of Jackson Pictures will produce.

Exclusive: Paramount Pictures’ highly-anticipated adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s novel Children Of Blood And Bone is gaining momentum as Deadline is hearing The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood is coming on to helm. Prince-Bythewood will develop the next pass of a draft penned by Adeyemi.

Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill Entertainment, Karen Rosenfelt of Sunswept Entertainment and Matt Jackson of Jackson Pictures will produce. Adeyemi and Reggie Rock Bythewood will executive produce.

The project has been a high priority for the studio ever since 2022 when Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group Co-Presidents Daria Cercek and Mike Ireland acquired the rights to the trilogy in a highly-competitive bidding war.

After Lucasfilm let the rights lapse on the series, reps for Adeyemi took it to the market where it had immediate interest. Sources said at the time multiple studios including Universal, Amazon and Netflix were in the mix as the...

Swagger star O’Shea Jackson Jr. is speaking out about the Apple TV+ basketball drama’s cancellation after two seasons.

“Damn near no promotion. Couldn’t even talk about it when it aired because of the strike. And it still got up to Apple’s Top 4. But “the numbers weren’t there”. Right. Ima miss my boys,” Jackson wrote on X (fka Twitter).

Inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant’s experiences as a kid, Swagger explored the world of elite youth basketball clubs, the players, their families and coaches. In addition to Jackson, it starred Isaiah Hill, Shinelle Azoroh, Quvenzhané Wallis, Caleel Harris, Tristan Mack Wilds, Tessa Ferrer, James Bingham, Solomon Irama, Ozie Nzeribe and Jason Riveram.

In an Instagram post sharing news of the cancellation, series creator Reggie Rock Bythewood thanked Apple for allowing him to make “the show I wanted to make.”

“What an amazing adventure. In our two seasons,...

Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Thursday, November 30, 2023.

Griselda is ready for her close-up.

Today, Netflix unveiled the official trailer for its upcoming Sofia Vergara limited series, Griselda.

The six-part series will debut on Thursday, January 25, 2024.

Griselda is inspired by the life of the savvy and ambitious Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history.

In 1970s-80s Miami, Blanco's lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family, leading her to become widely known as "the Godmother."

This looks set to be a massive departure for Sofia Vergara, who was a lead on Modern Family before moving on to judge on America's Got Talent.

Vergara is also set to executive produce the series alongside Eric Newman and Andrés Baiz. Baiz is set to direct all six episodes.

Ingrid Escajeda (Justified) and...

Apple TV+‘s Swagger, from series creator, showrunner, and Shots Fired director Reggie Rock Bythewood, has been canceled after two seasons. “What an amazing adventure,” wrote Bythewood on Instagram, sharing the news of the series’ end. “In our two seasons, we have launched careers, disrupted genre, brought forth humanity through our characters, told stories we care deeply about, revolutionized the way to shoot basketball, and had fun,” he wrote. He thanked “Kd, Brian, Rich, Imagine, and CBS Studios” for their trust. “Apple, while you are not ordering a season three, I made the show I wanted to make. Thank you for that,” he said toward the company. He went on to show his gratitude to the cast, writers, and crew while addressing the series’ fanbase and the industry. “For our FAMbase, you lifted us in ways we could have never imagined. To the industry, don’t take your foot off the gas.

Swagger will not be getting another season at Apple TV+.

The sports drama, inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant’s experiences as a kid, has been cancelled after two seasons at the streamer. Series creator Reggie Rock Bythewood shared the news of the cancellation on Instagram Thursday.

“What an amazing adventure. In our two seasons, we have launched careers, disrupted genre, brought forth humanity through our characters, told stories we care deeply about, revolutionized the way to shoot basketball and had fun,” he wrote.

He added: “Apple, while you are not ordering a season three, I made the show I wanted to make. Thank you for that. Cast, writers and crew, you have my gratitude. Walk off the set with Swagger. For our FAMbase, you lifted us in ways we could have never imagined. To the industry, don’t take your foot off the gas. Keep telling our stories.”

View...

Swagger left it all on the court in the Season 2 finale, which will now serve as the series finale.

Apple TV+ has cancelled the basketball drama after two seasons, TVLine has confirmed.

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Series creator Reggie Rock Bythewood paid tribute to the show Thursday on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “What an amazing adventure. In our two seasons, we have launched careers,...

“Swagger” has been canceled at Apple TV+ after two seasons.

Series creator Reggie Rock Bythewood shared the news with fans via Instagram. “What an amazing adventure,” he wrote. “In our two seasons, we have launched careers, disrupted genre, brought forth humanity through our characters, told stories we care deeply about, revolutionized the way to shoot basketball and had fun.”

Bythewood went on to thank the creative team behind the show as well as producer CBS Studios. “Apple, while you are not ordering a season three, I made the show I wanted to make. Thank you for that,” he continued.

“For our FAMbase, you lifted us in ways we could have never imagined. To the industry, don’t take your foot off the gas. Keep telling our stories,” he concluded.

“Swagger” is inspired by the life of NBA star Kevin Durant, who serves as an executive producer on the series. The...

Apple TV+ has canceled its drama series Swagger after two seasons.

The series about a high school basketball star (played by Isaiah Hill) and his journey through the world of youth hoops is loosely inspired by the life of NBA star Kevin Durant, who’s an executive producer. The cancellation comes a few months after season two’s final episode streamed in August.

Series creator, showrunner and director Reggie Rock Bythewood shared the news of Swagger’s end on Instagram. “What an amazing adventure. In our two seasons, we have launched careers, disrupted genre, brought forth humanity through our characters, told stories we care deeply about, revolutionized the way to shoot basketball and had fun. That’s a blessing,” he wrote.

After thanking fellow executive producers Durant, Brian Grazer and Rich Kleiman and producers Imagine Television and CBS Studios, Bythewood added, “Apple, while you are not ordering a season three,...

The series premieres on February 2 on Disney+ and Hulu.

National Geographic has released the first look at its upcoming season of the anthology series ‘Genius’, which will focus on the lives and legacies of two of the most influential civil rights leaders in American history: Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X.

The series, titled ‘Genius: MLK/X’, will explore the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies and key personal relationships of both men, who rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s and shaped the movement for racial equality and justice.

The series will feature Kelvin Harrison Jr (‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’) as King, Aaron Pierre (‘The Underground Railroad’) as X, Weruche Opia (‘I May Destroy You’) as Coretta Scott King, and Jayme Lawson (‘The Batman’) as Betty Shabazz. The cast also includes Ron Cephas Jones (‘This is Us’), who passed away in August 2023, in one of his last roles.

“Genius: MLK/X” has set its premiere date at Nat Geo, the network announced Wednesday.

The first two episodes of the eight-episode fourth season of “Genius” will premiere on Feb. 1 on Nat Geo and will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Two episodes will then drop weekly thereafter on all platforms. The announcement was made by Carolyn Bernstein, Nat Geo’s executive vice president of scripted and documentary films, as part of Nat Geo’s content showcase at Hall des Lumières.

Unlike past seasons, this season of “Genius” will tell the story of two geniuses — Civil Rights Movement leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. A behind-the-scenes first look at the season can be seen below.

The official description of the season states it will follow “both King and X from their formative years, where they were molded by strong fathers and traumatic injustices, to their rich,...

National Geographic announced a 2024 premiere date for Genius: MLK/X, the latest installment in Nat Geo’s Genius franchise. Genius: MLK/X will premiere the first two episodes Feb. 1 on National Geographic and stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu, with two new episodes debuting weekly on all platforms. The news was announced during Nat Geo’s content showcase Wednesday night in NYC.

In a first for the Emmy-winning anthology series, the eight-part series will focus on two iconic geniuses — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X — and how their dueling philosophies helped usher America through the Civil Rights Movement.

Genius: MLK/X follows both King and X from their formative years, where they were molded by strong fathers and traumatic injustices, to their rich, parallel stories as they shaped their identities and became the change they wished to see in the world. Influenced as children by different upbringings and experiences:...

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty may have just returned to HBO with even more stylistic excess, but if any sports drama should be holding court on TV, it’s Reggie Rock Bythewood’s Swagger. The series, which wrapped its second season on August 11, has as much flair as heart, pairing gripping basketball scenes with moments that emphasize the importance of community, especially for rising stars like Jace Carson (Isaiah Hill).

Spoiler Alert: This contains spoilers from “Swagger” Season 2, now streaming on AppleTV+.

As Reggie Rock Bythewood was gearing up for AppleTV+’s second season of “Swagger,” the filmmaker was thinking about how to elevate the series and take it to another level.

One film that came to mind was Sam Mendes’ “1917” and how cinematographer Roger Deakins had shot the film and presented it as if it were one continuous long shot.

The series follows a team of basketball players inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant and in the latest “maze,” as Bythewood calls it, the team down to six players, Jace (Isaiah R. Hill), Phil (Solomon Irama), Musa (Caleel Harris), Drew, Royale (Ozie Nzeribe), and Nick (Jason Rivera) head to Maryland’s Youth Facility, a detention center for young offenders for a game. “I thought about ‘1917’ and the entire film is shot as if it were one shot.

When Francie Calfo, then-president of television at Imagine Entertainment, first reached out to Reggie Rock Bythewood to gauge his interest in the sports drama that would become Swagger, he wasn’t immediately on board.

“There was something really interesting happening during that time,” recalls Bythewood, the creator, writer, director and executive producer of the Apple TV+ series. “In that same week, two other people hit me about basketball projects. I was like, ‘What is in the air?’

Still, Bythewood was somewhat intrigued by the idea of a TV show loosely inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant’s youth basketball days. So, he took a 45-minute flight from Los Angeles to Oakland, California — where Durant was playing for the Golden State Warriors at the time — and met with the 6’10″ pro baller, who’s also an executive producer of the series. It was then that the filmmaker’s level of interest changed...

Isaiah Hill in “Swagger,” now streaming on Apple TV+. The first season of Swagger, the Apple TV+ series centered around youth basketball, wrapped shooting more than two years ago. But the show wasn’t renewed for its second season until just last summer. Creator/executive producer Reggie Rock Bythewood told us that the delay presented the production team with both a challenge and an opportunity for Season 2, since the show’s young actors were growing up, and the new season embraces that idea. (Click on the media bar below to hear Reggie Rock Bythewood) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Swagger_.mp3 Swagger is currently streaming on Apple TV+.

The post ‘Swagger’ Creator: Season 2 Delay Gave Us Better Stories appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for No Hard Feelings, I’m a Virgo and Downey’s Dream Cars.

Downey’s Dream Cars premiere

Robert Downey Jr. made a rare red carpet appearance to debut his new Max series at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on June 16.

Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey

No Hard Feelings premiere

Jennifer Lawrence joined director Gene Stupnitsky and co-stars Andrew Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Hasan Minhaj, Kyle Mooney, Scott MacArthur, Zach McClarnon, Jordan Mendoza, Matthew Nozska, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Amalia Yoo at the New York premiere of their new comedy on Tuesday.

John Phillips, Laura Benanti, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Gene Stupnitsky, Natalie Morales, Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Feldman and Matthew Broderick Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Feldman

I’m a Virgo premiere

Stars Jharrel Jerome, Brett Gray,...

Director-writer Gina Prince-Bythewood, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-ny) and Mexico City Governor Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo will be the recipients of the Motion Picture Association’s MPA Awards.

The event, to take place in June at the MPA headquarters in Washington, was started last year to honor those who “have made notable contributions to the film, TV and streaming industry,” according to the trade organization.

Prince-Bythewood, receiving the MPA Creator Award, most recently directed The Woman King for Sony’s TriStar Pictures. She has written and directed feature films such as Love & Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees and Beyond The Lights. She and her husband Reggie Rock Bythewood serve as executive producers of the upcoming Disney+ and National Geographic series Genius: MLK/X via their production company Undisputed Cinema.

Jeffries, receiving the Industry Champion Award, is being recognized for ensuring “that the American creative community continues to drive economic...

What is it like to walk the fine line between success and failure? Basketball drama “Swagger ” is returning for a second season; the Apple TV+ series, from creator, showrunner, and director Reggie Rock Bythewood, finds its inspiration in NBA star Kevin Durant’s real-life experiences. This season sees the teens grapple with newfound athletic fame while also dealing with outside pressures and their own academic success.

Continue reading ‘Swagger’ Season 2 Trailer: The Apple TV+ Teen Sports Drama Returns In June at The Playlist.

Apple TV+ has unveiled the season 2 trailer for ‘Swagger,’ the acclaimed and emotional sports drama helmed by creator, showrunner and director Reggie Rock Bythewood.

Inspired by NBA superstar Kevin Durant’s experiences, the series explores the world of youth basketball, and the players, their families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, and opportunism and corruption. Off the court, the show reveals what it’s like to grow up in America.

In season two, we meet the man-children Jace, Phil, Nick, Musa, Drew and Royale as they are entering their senior year of high school. All but Phil will be attending Cedar Cove Prep; a predominantly White institution where wealthy board members control the entire operation from the hiring of faculty to the enrollment of students.

It is a school of power and influence. For all of their academic success, their basketball program has not been competitive until Emory Lawson,...

In Season 2 of Swagger, everything is at stake for Jace and his teammates.

On Monday, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for the second season of its sports drama based on NBA superstar Kevin Durant’s experiences, which premieres Friday, June 23.

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In Season 2, which will release a new episode every Friday, we meet “Jace (Isaiah Hill), Phil (Solomon Irama), Nick...

On March 8, the eighth annual Icon Mann Honors paid tribute to “The Woman King” director Gina Prince-Bythewood, who was lauded for her hallmark filmmaking and for inspiring culture by breaking new ground in cinema.

Striving for a better future in the arts, she addressed the audience that gathered at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills.

“I have always believed our greatness is reflected in our work and the ways that we show the world the incredible breadth of our humanity.”

The driving force for her career was further described during her acceptance speech. “From the beginning, I tell stories of Black women and girls and reframe the narrative of who we are and what we can be. I want us to look up on the screen and see ourselves reflected in a way that inspires us and that we can aspire to be. And I’m proud of the Black...

Filmmakers Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reginald Hudlin were celebrated Wednesday evening at the eighth pre-Oscar dinner of Icon Mann, a media and consulting company run by Tamara Houston that is dedicated to honoring the achievements of artists of color and providing a meeting place for powerful Black men, in particular.

During an elegant ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills that was hosted by CBS News anchor Errol Barnett, many of the most distinguished members of Hollywood’s Black community gathered to fete the veteran filmmakers behind two of 2022’s most acclaimed films — Prince-Bythewood’s Sony historical drama The Woman King and Hudlin’s Apple TV+ documentary feature Sidney — both of which were glaringly passed over for recognition by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Perhaps not coincidentally, the first person to toast Prince-Bythewood — the recipient of the Maverick Award “for breaking boundaries in the cinematic and televised...

Today at the 2023 Winter Television Critics Association press tour, Apple TV+ announced that “Swagger,” its acclaimed and emotional sports drama from creator, showrunner and director Reggie Rock Bythewood, is set to return for its second season in June of 2023, and unveiled a first look at the eight-episode, next chapter of the series, executive produced by Bythewood, Kevin Durant, Brian Grazer and Rich Kleiman.

Inspired by NBA superstar Kevin Durant’s experiences in youth basketball, “Swagger” explores the world of elite youth basketball clubs, the players, their families and coaches, and “the game within the game.” Off the court, the show reveals what it’s like to grow up in America.

Season two welcomes back returning stars O’Shea Jackson Jr., Isaiah Hill, Shinelle Azoroh, Academy Award nominee Quvenzhané Wallis, Caleel Harris, Tristan Mack Wilds, Tessa Ferrer, James Bingham, Solomon Irama, Ozie Nzeribe, Jason Rivera, Christina Jackson and Sean Baker, and adds...

The second season of Swagger will debut on Apple TV+ in June. The streamer announced the news Wednesday, along with a few first look images of the cast.

The images don’t give much away, showing a few moments with star Isaiah Hill’s character Jace Carson. One appears to be on the court after a game with O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s Ike, a former star player-turned-youth basketball coach. Another image appears to be a more tender interaction between Jace and Quvenzhané Wallis’ Crystal.

Season 2 comes just under two years after the premiere of the first installment, which prompted a bit of a time jump to accommodate the aging of the younger cast, as well usher in a more compelling storyline, creator, showrunner and director Reggie Rock Bythewood said during Apple TV+’s Television Critics Association panel.

During its presentation at the Television Critics Association’s winter 2023 press tour, Apple TV+ revealed a trailer for comedy series “Shrinking” starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, which premieres on Jan. 27.

The series follows Jimmy (Segel), a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives, including his own. Ford plays Jimmy’s boss, who runs the therapy practice. Also starring are Christa Miller, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie and Lukita Maxwell.

Segel, Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein co-created “Shrinking,” which is produced by Warner Bros. Television, where Lawrence is under an overall deal, and Lawrence’s Doozer Productions. Executive producers include Lawrence, Segel, Goldstein, Neil Goldman, director James Ponsoldt, Randall Winston, Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer.

See the trailer below.

Apple also revealed a first look at Season 2 of “Swagger.

Exclusive: Disney+ and National Geographic have set the remaining cast for Genius: MLK/X, the fourth installment in the anthology series. Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us), Gary Carr (The Peripheral) and Hubert Point-Du Jour (The Good Lord Bird) are set as series regulars opposite previously announced Kelvin Harrison Jr., Aaron Pierre, Weruche Opia and Jayme Lawson. Lennie James (The Walking Dead), LisaGay Hamilton (Lincoln Lawyer), Ashley Romans (Y: The Last Man), Donal Logue (Departure) and Griffin Matthews (The Flight Attendant) recur in the series, which will focus on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Pierre).

Genius: MLK/X, the first installment of Nat Geo’s series to stream as a Disney+ original, will explore the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies and key personal relationships of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Pierre). While King advanced racial equality through nonviolent protest,...

The Gotham Film & Media Institute has set The Woman King filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood and Audible, Inc.’s Founder and Executive Chairman Don Katz as the latest pair of honorees to be feted at the 32nd annual Gotham Awards, taking place live and in person at NYC’s Cipriani Wall Street on November 28.

Prince-Bythewood will receive the Filmmaker Tribute, with Katz set for the Innovator Tribute.

Related Story ‘Close’, ‘Holy Spider’ & ‘Triangle Of Sadness’ Lead European Film Awards Nominations Related Story Focus Features' Peter Kujawski & Jason Cassidy Set For Industry Tribute At 2022 Gotham Awards Related Story Gina Prince-Bythewood Set For Golden Eddie At 73rd Ace Eddie Awards, Editors Lynne Willingham & Don Zimmerman To Receive Career Achievement Honors

Prince-Bythewood is an award-winning writer, director and producer who was also recently named by American Cinema Editors as this year’s recipient of their Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award. She most...

Writer-director lining up Genius: MLK/X for television.

The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood will receive the Filmmaker Tribute at the 32nd annual Gotham Awards.

Prince-Bythewood has written and directed The Old Guard, Love & Basketball, The Secret Life Of Bees, and Beyond The Lights. She is lining up to direct for TV Genius: MLK/X exploring the accomplishments, duelling philosophies and key personal relationships of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, on which Prince-Bythewood and her husband Reggie Rock Bythewood will serve as executive producers under their production company Undisputed Cinema.

Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute,...

American Cinema Editors has announced it will honor The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood with its Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 73rd annual Ace Eddie Awards, taking place within UCLA’s Royce Hall on March 5, 2023.

The Golden Eddie is an award recognizing an artist who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Past recipients include Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Kathleen Kennedy, Christopher Nolan, Lauren Shuler Donner, Guillermo del Toro, Vince Gilligan, J.J. Abrams, Nancy Meyers, Martin Scorsese, Norman Jewison, Robert Zemeckis, George Lucas, and the Sundance Institute, among others.

“A supremely versatile trailblazer from day one of her career, Gina Prince-Bythewood has consistently entertained us with intimate films and global blockbusters that explore the human experience through formidable female characters,” said Ace president Kevin Tent, Ace. “A champion of diverse, character-driven narratives, her latest film — The Woman King — is the crown jewel...

Disney+ and National Geographic’s anthology series has found the ensemble cast of its upcoming “Genius: MLK/X.” Portraying the pioneering leaders of the Civil Rights Movement are Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Aaron Pierre (“The Underground Railroad”) as Malcolm X, Weruche Opia (“I May Destroy You”) as Coretta Scott King and Jayme Lawson (“The Batman”) as Betty Shabazz.

Principal photography will begin next month in Atlanta.

“We are beyond excited to have put together the incredible foursome of Kelvin, Aaron, Jayme and Weruche to bring the depth, complexity, and humanity to these indelible icons,” executive producers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood said in a statement. “They are all next level in their chops and their passion to tell this story.”

As previously announced, in a first for the franchise, Season 4 of the Emmy-winning show will center on two iconic geniuses: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.