HBO has launched an all-star lineup of featured artists in the adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Between the World and Me.”
The cast of the HBO version will include Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey, “Black Lives Matter” founder Alicia Garza, Joe Morton, Phylicia Rashad, The Roots’ Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Courtney B. Vance, Pauletta Washington, and Susan Kelechi Watson. Additional castings will be announced at a later date.
Originally adapted and performed by the Apollo Theater in 2018, it will combine special elements of that production, including readings from Coates’ book, and will be re-directed by Apollo Theater executive producer Kamilah Forbes. It will also record documentary footage of the actors’ home life, archival footage and animation. The special, which is currently in production under COVID-19 guidelines, will debut on HBO this fall and will also be available for streaming on HBO Max.
It is described as an exploration into the fertile history of Black Americans in the country and questions, including what it means to live in a black body. The book is written in the style of a letter to Coates ‘teenage son, and tells stories of Coates’ experiences growing up in downtown Baltimore, his growing fear of daily violence against the Black community and his view that the structure of American society supports white. supremasy.
Forbes will serve as executive producer in addition to directing. Other executive producers include Coates, Watson, and Roger Ross Williams. Production company Williams produces One Story Up.
Bassett is reprized by Gersh, Lighthouse Entertainment, and Fox Rothschild. Garza is being remade by ICM. Morton is hired by TalentWorks and Vanguard Management Group. Trotter is reprized by Sweet 180, Maverick, and the Law Office of Brad Rubens, Esq. Vance is reprized by WME and Fox Rothschild. Washington is reprized by WME. Rashad is being re-created by innovative artists and BKEntertainment. Watson is reprized by UTA, Authentic Talent and Literary Management, and Jackoway Tyerman. Winfrey is rapped by Digits Brittenham.
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