biopic
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Cynthia Erivo to Portray Aretha Franklin in First-Ever Authorized Limited Series About the Queen of Soul
Fresh off the heels of Harriet, Cynthia Erivo will be portraying another beloved woman in black history—Aretha Franklin. According to Variety, Erivo will be taking on the role of Franklin in National Geographic’s third season of Genius, an anthology period drama. “Aretha Franklin has been a source of inspiration for me since I was a…
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Urbanworld 2019: How Kasi Lemmons, Vondie Curtis-Hall and Henry Hunter Hall Continue a Creative Legacy in Harriet
Before she departed this earth, Harriet Tubman’s last words were, “I go to prepare a place for you.” When I hear such a powerful phrase, I can’t help but think of the concept of legacy. When you leave this earth, what will you leave behind that defines you? Will it carry on through your children?…
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Trevante Rhodes and Andra Day Cast in Lee Daniels' Billie Holiday Project Set to Explore Lesser-Known Love Affair
God bless the child who’s got his own Billie Holiday biopic. According to Deadline, one of Lee Daniels’ new projects, The United States vs. Billie Holiday is set to start production soon and has cast a few leading roles, including Trevante Rhodes (Moonlight, Bird Box), singer Andra Day, Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Dolemite is My Name),…
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Ain't No Way: Estate Conflict Reveals Aretha Franklin Once Kept $750,000 in Uncashed Checks in Her Purse
The battle over Aretha Franklin’s estate has gotten capital M-MESSY, requiring a long, drawn-out court hearing this week in which deep familial divisions—and some pretty shocking details about the late great singer’s finances—were on full display. Among the revelations: Franklin, who allegedly did not have an accounting system while she was alive, once had $750,000…
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In New TV Series, Jay-Z and Will Smith Will Show the World Through Mamie Till's Eyes
A long-delayed TV series focusing on Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of Emmett Till, will finally see daylight, thanks to executive producers Jay-Z and Will Smith. The anthology series, which currently has the working title Women of the Movement, was picked up by ABC, which announced the project Tuesday, according to Vulture. Previously, the series had…
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Poetry In Motion: Barry Jenkins to Direct Alvin Ailey Biopic
Barry Jenkins has a new project in the works and I’m about to 8-count my coins and hand over my wallet so he can hurry up and take my money. Jenkins has been confirmed as the director of an untitled Fox Searchlight film based on the life and works of acclaimed choreographer and activist, Alvin…
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'She's Small Like Me': First Look at Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman
As film is a visual medium, it makes sense that buzz heightens once the audience gets a peek at movie stills, photo shoots or other behind-the-scenes photos connected to a film. Such is the case with Harriet, an upcoming biographical drama from Focus Features, chronicling the story of Harriet Tubman, who helped free hundreds of…
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What You Want? Baby, You Got It: Aretha Franklin’s Biopic Lands Black Female Director
As long rumored, the late Queen of Soul is finally getting her just due respect via the silver screen. The biopic on the late great Aretha Franklin is aptly titled Respect, after her most noteworthy song. According to Variety, the film is making progress as a director has been secured— Liesl Tommy will be helming…
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A Rosa Parks Feature Biopic May Be Coming to Theaters for the First Time
Rosa Parks’ legacy has been depicted in several forms, including the 2001 Academy Award-nominated documentary Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks, and the 2002 TV movie The Rosa Parks Story, starring Angela Bassett. Still, we have yet to see an epic feature biopic on the big screen about the iconic civil rights activist. Winter…