In 2016, it was announced that Jamie Foxx was set to make his directorial debut with the controversial comedy entitled All-Star Weekend. The film was about the NBA’s annual All-Star Weekend event, centered around NBA superstars LeBron James and Steph Curry. For unknown reasons, the film was never released.
On Saturday (August 11), the 56-year-old entertainer unveiled the trailer for the shelved film to his 17.3 million Instagram followers. In 2022, Foxx told various media outlets that the film would not be released until “people go back to laughing again” as he felt “people might be too sensitive” for the film.
All-Star Weekend focuses on two basketball fans, played by Foxx and Jeremy Piven, who embark on a road trip to attend the NBA All-Star Game. They encounter eccentric characters as they travel, leading to a series of controversial and comedic situations. The film also stars Robert Downey Jr, Gerald Bulter, Snoop Dogg, Eva Longoria, DJ Khaled, Benicio De Toro, and Foxx’s daughter Corinne Foxx.
The film was set to be released on Front Row Center Films and was financed by Sijma Equity Group. The film is produced by Chuck Pacheco, Deon Taylor, and Butch Kaplan.
In the Instagram Story, Foxx teased that the film could be released in 2025. According to Jamie Foxx, the 2016 “Cancel Culture” era was responsible for the film’s refusal to be released. Since recovering from illness in 2023, Foxx has returned to acting with nine films in production and plans to return to stand-up comedy.
Foxx coincidentally shared the unreleased trailer after LeBron James and Steph Curry helped Team USA win gold at this year’s Paris Olympics. LeBron performed amazingly throughout the games, but Curry secured the victory against France with a series of great scoring drives in the final minutes.
Quinta Brunson is turning her attention to the movies and will produce, co-write, and star in a comedy feature for Universal called “Par for the Course” that will see the “Abbott Elementary” star act alongside Stephanie Hsu.
While this isn’t Brunson’s first film acting role, its her first screenplay and major starring role. She’ll be writing the script alongside Justin Tan, who is also a writer on “Abbott Elementary,” and Tan will direct the film as his feature directorial debut.
Seth Rogen‘s Point Grey Pictures will also produce the comedy alongside Brunson, and it’s a mini reunion between the two after Brunson had a part in Rogen’s “An American Pickle.” Alex McAtee is set to produce on behalf of Point Grey under its first-look deal with Universal Pictures. Brunson is producing on behalf of her production banner Fifth Chance.
Plot details for “Par for the Course” are being kept under wraps, but the film is based on an original idea from Brunson.
“I’m so excited to be working with Point Grey and Universal on ‘Par for the Course.’ This is a comedy close to my heart, and who better to do it with than some of the best producers in the game,” Brunson said in a statement. “I’ve known Seth, Evan, James, and Alex for a while and I’m happy to finally work on a project together. Justin Tan is my long-term comedy partner and collaborator, and we are thrilled to have the chance to work together on a film. Stephanie is a talent we are so fortunate to unite with, I can’t wait to see what we can do together on screen.”
“We’re so thrilled at the opportunity to get to work with Quinta,” Rogen said. “She’s one of our most incredible comedic voices working today, and it’s such an honor to get to work alongside her and watch what she brings to this project.
Brunson is a two-time Emmy winner for her work as both a writer and actress on “Abbott Elementary,” the ABC sitcom that recently completed its third season.
Hsu is an Oscar nominee for the Best Picture winner “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and is known for her work on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and the comedy “Joy Ride,” among others. This year she appeared in “The Fall Guy” also for Universal and Focus Features’ “Didi,” and she’ll lend her voice to another Universal and DreamWorks animated film, the upcoming “The Wild Robot.”
Senior Executive Vice President of Production Development Erik Baiers and Creative Executive Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project on behalf of the Studio.
Brunson is represented by CAA, Strig Artist Management, attorneys Lily G. Tillers and Nina Shaw at Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang, and Persona PR. Tan is represented by CAA, Strig Artist Management, and Authentic Talent + Literary Management. Hsu is represented by CAA and Shelter PR.
Source: IndieWire
Nick Cannon Presents Wild ‘N Out, the iconic comedy show that has launched careers of Kevin Hart, DC Young Fly, and Katt Williams, is celebrating 20 years with its “Final Lap Tour” this fall.
According to the news release, the tour will feature a blend of Wild ‘N Out all-stars from past and present, dynamic musical performances, and fan-favorite interactive games. It offers fans the chance to relive some of the show’s most memorable moments and see their favorite stars perform live.
For two decades, Wild ‘N Out has been a cultural phenomenon, shaping comedy and entertainment worldwide. This tour celebrates its legacy, bringing the show’s signature improvisational comedy and high-energy games to life on stages across the country.
“Wild ‘N Out has been a labor of love for the past 20 years,” said Cannon. “We’ve created a platform for so many talented individuals, and it’s been incredible to watch them flourish. This final lap is our way of celebrating the legacy of the show and thanking the fans who have supported us along the way.”
“This Final Lap Tour is going to be epic!” said Rip Micheals, Wild ‘N Out cast member and tour creator. “Expect to see your favorite Wild ‘N Out family members back on stage, with past greats going head-to-head with the new legends of comedy. We’re pulling out all the stops to make this the most unforgettable tour yet.”
The “Wild ‘N Out Live: The Final Lap Tour” promises an unforgettable night of laughter and surprises. Wild ‘N Out cast members from past and present will be engaging audiences with hilarious improv games and freestyle battles. Per the release, the tour will host musical performances by some of today’s hottest artists, alongside interactive audience games allowing fans to participate in the show’s iconic challenges.
For the latest details on the tour visit www.wildnoutlivetour.com.
Tour Dates and Cities:
Additional cities and dates forthcoming. Tour dates and venues are subject to change.
A filmed version of Usher‘s latest concert tour is moving and grooving to the big screen in the fall.
“Usher: Rendezvous in Paris” will arrive in movie theaters on Sept. 12 for a limited theatrical run. It’s expected to play in approximately 2,000 locations across the globe.
The concert film “incorporates the essence of his landmark cultural phenomenon Vegas residencies into a seductive French touch confession,” according to a press release. Captured during Paris Fashion Week at La Seine Musicale and directed by Anthony Mandler, “Rendezvous in Paris” features Usher performing chart-topping hits like “Yeah,” “My Boo” and “Love In This Club” and gives audiences a glimpse inside his life beyond the stage.
“Paris was a special experience for me as an entertainer and for my fans,” Usher said in a statement. “I hope those who weren’t able to make it in person get to experience how special it was. As for those of you who were, I hope you experience the show and see what it takes to get there through a different lens.”
The concert film will be released in the U.S. and globally by Trafalgar Releasing, in partnership with AMC Theatres Distribution. AMC and Odeon will provide core marketing support for the film in the U.S. and international markets. This marks AMC’s latest foray into distribution following the release of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” AMC’s chairman Adam Aron has previously said he expects that AMC will unveil “two to three” concert films a year and recently expanded the company’s distribution team, underscoring its commitment to releasing its own movies.
“For 30 years, Usher has captivated and entertained audiences through his music and concerts. Just a few months ago, he drew rave reviews for his stunning performance in front of 129 million people during the Super Bowl Half Time Show,” Aron said in a statement. “Bringing his unparalleled concert experience to movie theaters for his fans around the world is a perfect fit for AMC Theatres Distribution.”
Source: Variety
Lil Rel Howery, Janelle James, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Maude Apatow, and Katt Williams have joined TriStar’s untitled buddy comedy starring Keke Palmer and four-time Grammy-winning musician Sza. Joshua Neal, Aziza Scott, and Patrick Cage will also star.
The logline is being kept under wraps. Lawrence Lamont is directing with the screenplay written by Syreeta Singleton. Producing is Hoorae’s Issa Rae and Sara Diya Rastogi, ColorCreative’s Deniese Davis, and Macro Film Studios’ Charles D. King, James Lopez and Poppy Hanks. Singleton is co-producing. Big Boss’ Palmer and Sharon Palmer are executive producing. Macro Film Studios is also co-financing.
The project came together from the CoCre lab at Sony Pictures, a previous pact between ColorCreative and Sony to source and incubate emerging, diverse screenwriters to develop and write their first studio feature based on original ideas.
Howery is continuing to busy, recently starring in Vacation Friends 2, the sequel to the Hulu movie he starred in alongside John Cena. Other recent credits include Judas and the Black Messiah, Good Burger 2 and the Christmas comedy Dashing Through the Snow with Ludacris. This year, Howery was seen in We Grown Now, and he is next set to star in Sony’s Harold and the Purple Crayon this August.
James stars in the Emmy-nominated ABC comedy Abbott Elementary, for which she has received three consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, as well as nominations for Golden Globe, Independent Spirit, Critics Choice and Gotham awards. She also earned the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and a nomination for the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy. Her latest stand-up special was featured in Season 3 of Netflix’s The Stand Ups.
An original cast member of the Broadway hit Dreamgirls, Calloway has earned eight NAACP Image Award nominations. She won the NAACP Theater Award for Best Actress for her role as Zora Neale Hurston in her one-woman play Letters From Zora. She stars in The Black Hamptons now streaming on BET and Netflix’s new series The Vince Staples Show, produced by Kenya Barris. She is a producer and co-stars in Wicked City, a series on AllBlk. She directed, produced and co-starred in Black Girl Erupted, a TV movie streaming on BET and BETHer.
Monterroso Mejia is best known for her character Maria Sofia Estrada on Season 11 of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Upcoming, Monterroso Mejia will star opposite Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon in You’re Cordially Invited for Amazon, written and directed by Nick Stoller. She will star opposite Seth Rogen in The Studio, Apple TV+’s upcoming comedy series from Rogen’s Point Grey, and will also appear in Mindy Kaling’s pro basketball comedy series Running Point for Netflix.
Apatow currently stars as Lexi Howard in HBO’s Euphoria. It was recently announced that she launched Jewelbox Pictures, a film and television production company alongside creative partner Olivia Rosenbloom. The company currently has three films in development, the first of which – Poetic License – will mark Apatow’s feature directorial debut. Jewelbox also optioned How to Murder Your Life, written by Cat Marnell, and is attached to produce the film Female Friendship, with an eye toward Apatow starring.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Williams’ guest role in Atlanta earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. His most recent project, the comedy horror film The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2, fa ollow-up to the 2016 indie hit, stars Williams along with Mike Epps, Snoop Dogg and Danny Trejo.
Neal has worked on HBO’s Black Lady Sketch Show for Robin Thede, and artist Teezo Touchdown.
Scott has appeared in TNT’s Murder in the First, HBO’s Insecure, Freeform’s The Fosters and Showtime’s Twenties. Scott recently was a series regular on Apple TV+’s Home Before Dark.
Cage most recently starred in the second season of the Max series Rap Sh!t created by Rae and had a recurring role in the third season of Paramount’s Mayor of Kingstown.
Source: Deadline
Erica Ash, who spent two seasons on the Fox sketch comedy show Mad TV and also stood out on the BET reality spoof Real Husbands of Hollywood and the Starz comedy-drama Survivor’s Remorse, has died. She was 46.
Ash died Sunday in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer, her publicist Elizabeth Much told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Erica was an amazing woman and talented entertainer who touched countless lives with her sharp wit, humor and genuine zest for life,” her family said in a statement. “Her memory will live eternally in our hearts.”
She also starred as the fierce public defender Gwen Sullivan on the 2018 BET drama In Contempt.
Ash first made an impression by starring on the first two seasons (2006-08) of Logo’s The Big Gay Sketch Show, produced by Rosie O’Donnell, and she appeared on the big screen in films including Scary Movie V (2013), Uncle Drew (2018), The Big Bend (2021) and Violet (2021).
Ash played Mary Charles (“M-Chuck”) Calloway, half-sister of Jessie T. Usher’s pro basketball player Cam Calloway, on all four seasons (2014-17) of Survivor’s Remorse. The series was produced by LeBron James at his Spring Hill Productions.
As Bridgette Hart, she made life extremely difficult for her ex-husband Kevin Hart on Real Husbands of Hollywood, which ran for five seasons, from 2013-16.
Erica Chantal Ash was born in Florida on Sept. 19, 1977, and raised in Atlanta, where she attended Emory University to study medicine. She took a break and went to Japan, where she “fell into a background singing gig my first week there” and did some modeling, she told the Los Angeles Times in 2017.
“Then my modeling team was doing a show for the royal family of Japan at this hotel and the ringside announcer thought I should ringside announce. Literally, one thing led to another, so I tell people I’m the Forrest Gump of my field. I just blindly, by faith, walked through life and said ‘yes’ to things that were presented to me, and it led me here.”
She worked on Broadway in 2011 in Baby It’s You!, the jukebox musical from Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott that featured music from The Shirelles and other acts signed to Scepter Records.
Her résumé also included episodes of Cold Case, Shades of Blue, A Black Lady Sketch Show and Family Reunion and the films Kristy (2014), Jean of the Joneses (2016) and The Outlaw Johnny Black (2023).
Donations in her memory can be made to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation or the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Survivors include her mother, Diann, and her sister, Adrienne.
Ash “was an actress whose range and talent were truly limitless,” Rel Dowdell, director of film studies at Hampton University, noted. “Her canvas of work admirably and notably covered all genres, and with every performance, she left a first-class impression on the viewer.”
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
“Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” is filling out its faculty.
Actor, comedian, and writer Gina Yashere (“Bob Hearts Abishola”) has enrolled in the first season of the Paramount+ series as a recurring guest star, to play one of the instructors at the storied institution of higher learning.
She joins Holly Hunter, who leads the series as the captain and chancellor of Starfleet Academy, as well as Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané, and Zoë Steiner as new cadets. Paul Giamatti will also recur as the main villain of the season.
According to the official logline, the show “introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”
Production will begin on the series later this summer, and fans are due to get their first preview of the series at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday.
Yashere was the co-creator and showrunner of the sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola,” which ran for five seasons on CBS. She got her start in the U.S. as a finalist on “Last Comic Standing,” and has appeared as a comedian on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” “Def Comedy Jam,” “Live at the Apollo” and “The Tonight Show.” She’s also acted on “The Neighborhood,” “Crashing” and “The Barbarian and the Troll.”
Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are the co-showrunners and executive producers of “Starfleet Academy,” and executive producer Gaia Violo wrote the premiere episode. Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa and John Weber also executive produce. The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
William Jackson Harper has joined the cast of “The Morning Show” Season 4 at Apple TV+, Variety has learned.
Harper will appear alongside series leads Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston and fellow new cast members Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, and. Aaron Pierre. Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Greta Lee, Jon Hamm, and Nicole Beharie also star.
Harper will play the role of Ben, described as “the network’s self-assured and innovative Head of Sports.”
Harper is perhaps best known for his role in the critically-acclaimed NBC comedy series “The Good Place,” for which he received an Emmy nomination for best-supporting actor in a comedy in 2020. Harper recently appeared in the Netflix limited series “A Man in Full” and has also starred in shows like “Love Life” and “The Resort.” In film, he has starred in features like “Midsommar,” “Dark Waters,” and “Paterson.” In theater, Harper was recently nominated for a Tony Award for his work in the Lincoln Center Theatre revival of “Uncle Vanya.”
“The Morning Show” Season 4 is currently in production. The series was recently nominated for 16 Emmy Awards, including nods for outstanding drama series and acting nominations for cast members like Aniston, Witherspoon, Beharie, Crudup, Duplass, and Hamm.
Kerry Ehrin developed “The Morning Show.” Charlotte Stoudt serves as showrunner and executive producer under her overall deal with Apple. Aniston and Kristin Hahn executive produce via Echo Films, while Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter executive produce via Hello Sunshine. Mimi Leder serves as director and executive producer also under her overall deal. Michael Ellenberg executive produces for Media Res, which produces the series. Micah Schraft and Zander Lehmann also serve as executive producers.
Source: Variety
Jordan Peele is bringing back the hidden camera prank show.
The Oscar-winning Get Out filmmaker is reviving Scare Tactics, which originally launched on Syfy in 2003 and ran for five seasons. The series debuted just one month after MTV’s Punk’d and featured ordinary people being put into terrifying situations with the help of professional Hollywood special effects, stunt and makeup teams.
The official description: “Scare Tactics will turn unsuspecting individuals into the main characters of their very own horror movies. This heart-pounding show offers a cinematic approach to the hidden camera concept. Set up by their friends and family, these unwitting participants are put in hilariously twisted scenarios with fully immersive stories that blur the lines of reality, horror, and comedy. As they navigate one unreal decision after another, audiences will laugh, jump, and be left breathless for more.”
Win Rosenfeld, the president of Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, said in a statement: “We’re so grateful at Monkeypaw to help reimagine one of our all-time favorite hidden camera shows. Working with showrunner Elan Gale, one of the most creative and mischievous minds in unscripted television, and Scott Hallock, the brilliant creator of the original Scare Tactics, has been an absolute blast. It’s cathartic and hilarious to watch people get a little scared, and the scenarios we cooked up for this season are really wild. We can’t wait to share a little light-hearted schadenfreude with audiences soon.”
Added creator Hallock: “Reimagining Scare Tactics with Jordan, Monkeypaw and UTAS has been a dream come true. Fans have been asking us to bring Scare Tactics back for years, and working with this team was an amazing opportunity.
The rebooted Scare Tactics is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio and Monkeypaw and will debut on USA Network sometime this fall.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
This September, comedian and social media personality Druski will kick off his first-ever comedy/music festival, Coulda Fest, in Atlanta.
On Sept. 7 at the State Farm Arena, Druski will co-host Coulda Fest alongside Wild n Out star and comedian DC Young Fly, with performances by Lil Baby, Kai Cenat, Soulja Boy, Waka Flocka Flame, Yung Joc, Young Dro, Roscoe Dash, Navv Greene, Travis Porter, DJ Unk, Baby Drill, Baby Kia, Shop Boyz, Yung LA, F.L.Y., Rich Kidz, and Ugliest Rapper Alive. Kai Cenat will also appear, as Druski will provide live comedic sketches alongside the music portion of the night, which looks to pay homage to the Atlanta hip-hop scene through nostalgia and humor.
“Coulda Fest won’t be a traditional music and comedy festival,” Druski tells Billboard exclusively. “It’s going to be a celebration of Atlanta’s culture and a night full of hilarious sketches that bring us back to the special times in our city’s music history. This concept has never been done before, so I’m looking forward to bringing this vision to life.”
Produced by Outback Presents, tickets for Coulda Fest will be available with a presale starting on Wednesday (July 24) at 10 a.m. EST (code: COULDA). An extra venue presale will kick off on Thursday (July 25) at 10 a.m. EST ahead of the general on-sale that begins on Friday (July 26) at 10 a.m. EST via 4Lifers.com & ticketmaster.com.