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André Holland is a busy man. His recent TV series The Big Cigar and Terminator Zero were great, and his new film The Actor is a personal favorite, a film noir masterpiece. He is also starring in this year's The Dutchman, Once Again... (Statues Never Die), and Love, Brooklyn, along with the film The Revisionist, which stars Holland alongside Dustin Hoffman, Alison Brie, and Tom Sturridge. Like The Actor, The Revisionist deals with the blurring of lines between art and life, truth and fiction, identity and performance; Holland plays the titular actor in The Actor and a writer in The Revisionist. Though, as Holland told MovieWeb in a recent interview, the two films are different in many ways.

"It's completely different, and it's still very much [happening]," said Holland (who is also currently attending Harvard Divinity School). "We just finished maybe six weeks ago, something like that, or maybe two months.

The story of the courageous leader of the Pride Lands, Mufasa, has finally arrived and it’s roared up a star-studded cast.

Written by Jeff Nathanson (“Young Woman and the Seas”) and directed by Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”) comes the origin story of Mufasa and his brother Taka, who fans eventually know better as Scar. The film is centered on the two lions, who befriend one another as cubs from very different backgrounds. In an effort to evade a deadly foe, the two work together in a cross-country adventure through which they meet young lioness Sarabi, wise mandrill Rafiki and bossy hornbill Zazu.

Donald Glover and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reprise their roles as Simba and Nala, but there’s several newbies who have joined “The Lion King” pride. Take a look at the cast below.

Aaron Pierre as Mufasa (Getty Images/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Aaron Pierre as Mufasa

Aaron Pierre stars as Mufasa,...

For more than 20 years, The Sentinel Awards have celebrated television that makes a difference, honoring shows that tackle controversial, socially relevant, and taboo subjects. Television has the potential to educate, inform, and shed light on topics that are usually left in the dark. The Sentinel Awards exist to shine a little extra light on shows that are brave enough to tackle these difficult subjects.

This year, The Sentinel Awards are hosted by Laraine Newman, founding member of The Groundlings and one of the original members of Saturday Night Live's "Not Ready For Prime Time Players." A comedy legend in her own right, Newman has spent much of her later career as a voice actor, with tons of credits in animated features, television shows, and video games.

Related Saturday Night's True Story & What Happened On SNL's First Episode Explained

2024's Saturday Night Live movie chronicles the show's origin and first episode,...

Sometimes a film production just captures lightning in a bottle, with everyone operating at their highest levels. It's the 10th anniversary of Ava DuVernay's Oscar-winning movie Selma, which certainly feels like one of those films. We spoke with Andr Holland recently about his role as a tortured painter in the newly released movie, Exhibiting Forgiveness. It's a groundbreaking achievement from writer-director Titus Kaphar, who is also an internationally recognized painter himself, and Holland is no stranger to groundbreaking films.

"I don't think I knew then how monumental... it would be. What I knew is that it was an important story," Holland told MovieWeb. "I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and so, the Civil Rights Movement and that history was all around me, all the time. Andrew Young [who I portray] is someone who my mother actually didn't work directly for but worked, like, in connection with when she was a young woman in the movement.

Hollywood, Health & Society, a program of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, unveiled its winners for this year’s Sentinel Awards on Wednesday, ahead of its celebratory ceremony on Oct. 24.

Hh&s has presented the Sentinel Awards for nearly 25 years, recognizing some of the best TV storylines that responsibly inform audiences on critical topics, including climate change, racism, abortion and addiction.

The ceremony, held at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, will be hosted by comedian and Saturday Night Live veteran Laraine Newman, with presenters including Sarayu Blue from Expats, Matt Shively and Selenis Leyva of Lopez vs Lopez and Yeardley Smith from The Simpsons.

“Television has the power to affect audiences’ perceptions and influence how they view and engage with the world. While entertainment is vital, it should never compromise accuracy, especially when addressing important topics — a hallmark of Norman Lear’s legacy. Thoughtful and responsible storytelling can educate,...

The 2024 Sentinel Awards has unveiled its winners ahead of next week’s ceremony, when awards will be handed out at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills to honor TV series including Grey’s Anatomy, The Morning Show, Abbott Elementary and Hacks.

Presented by Hollywood, Health & Society at the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, the Sentinel Awards recognize writers for meaningful and accurate portrayals onscreen on such timely topics as abortion, systemic racism, climate change and mental health. Laraine Newman is set to host the upcoming October 24 ceremony.

Hh&s has presented the Sentinel Awards for nearly 25 years, aiming to recognize some of the past year’s best TV that “responsibly informs audiences on critical topics.”

“Television has the power to affect audiences’ perceptions and influence how they view and engage with the world. While entertainment is vital, it should never compromise accuracy, especially when addressing important topics — a hallmark of Norman Lear’s legacy,...

ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” is set to be honored next week with a Sentinel Award, which will recognize the series’ entire body of work over the past 20 seasons (and heading into Season 21) when it comes to promoting the culture of health. That’s one of eleven awards set to be given out on Thursday, October 24, as the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center’s Hollywood, Health & Society program recognizes series that make a difference in informing viewers about important issues.

Other shows set to be honored include Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show,” for its discussion on abortion, NBC’s “Lopez vs. Lopez” for tackling addiction, Fox’s “The Simpsons” for looking at wealth disparity, Max’s “Hacks” for touching on the climate crisis, AMC’s “Dark Winds” for its story focus on racism in healthcare, ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” on taking on the dangers of smoking and vaping, and more.

“Abbott Elementary,” “The Morning Show,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Hacks” are among the 11 television shows that will be honored at the Sentinel Awards, which are determined by USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center’s Hollywood, Health & Society program.

“The Simpsons,” “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans,” “Expats,” “Lopez vs Lopez,” “Gen V,” “The Big Cigar” and “Dark Winds” have also been tapped to receive awards at the ceremony, which is set to take place Thursday, Oct. 24 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, California.

Programs are recognized for creating television storylines that responsibly informs audiences on various critical topics and have made an impact.

“Grey’s Anatomy” will be feted for its overall depiction of healthcare over the course of its two-decade run. “The Morning Show” is being lauded for its portrayal of abortion in the Season 3 episode, “The Kármán Line,” while “Abbott Elementary” is being honored for its depiction of smoking and vaping in the Season 3 episode,...

The winners of the 2024 Sentinel Awards, organized by Hollywood, Health & Society (Hh&s), a program of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, were just announced in advance of the ceremony that will take place on Thursday, October 24 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, CA.

Made in order to recognize some of the past year’s best TV entertainment that responsibly informs audiences on critical topics, this year’s list of Sentinel Award winners include “The Morning Show,” “Abbott Elementary,” and “Hacks,” for the shows’ approach toward tackling important subjects like the abortion, smoking, and climate consciousness, respectively. Last year, the ceremony took place the evening after Norman Lear’s passing, giving the industry their first chance to mourn the TV giant, and cementing the event as a celebration of his life and impact as well.

Comedian, writer, “SNL” alum, and The Groundlings founding member Laraine Newman will...

King Bee Productions, founded by Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, has inked a first look deal with Sony Pictures Television.

The multi-year partnership will see King Bee developing and producing globally-targeted scripted content for Sony’s international production group and U.S. studio. The production company’s team includes Lizzie Nastro, who previously worked as head of acquisitions for IFC, and former Vice exec Sam Schlaifler who is joining as VP of development.

Among King Bee’s output is two seasons of “Doll & Em” (HBO and Sky) and feature film “To Dust” starring Matthew Broderick and Geza Rohrig.

Mortimer is currently working alongside Noah Baumbach on his upcoming, as-yet-untitled Netflix feature in which she also stars alongside George Clooney and Adam Sandler. The film has completed principal photographer. She also wrote, directed and starred in the recent adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s “The Pursuit of Love” (BBC/Amazon) which...

Exclusive: Emmy nominated actress, Moses Ingram, has signed with Linden Entertainment.

Ingram was most recently seen starring in AppleTV+’s limited series Lady In The Lake opposite Natalie Portman as well as Raven Jackson’s All Dirt Roads Taste Of Salt for A24. Later this year, Ingram will be seen in Joshua Oppenheimer’s feature debut The End opposite Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, and George McKay for Neon. Ingram is currently in production on Kathryn Bigelow’s Untitled Netflix film.

Prior roles include Netflix’s Emmy winning limited series The Queen’s Gambit for which she garnered an Emmy nomination for her role; Disney+’s limited series Obi Wan Kenobi; AppleTV’s limited series The Big Cigar; Joel Coen’s The Tragedy Of Macbeth and Peter Hedges’ The Same Storm and Michael Bay’s Ambulance.

Linden Entertainment will rep Ingram alongside Innovative Artists, Fox Rothschild and The Lede Company.

Linden Entertainment...

Exclusive: Paramount+’s new original limited series JonBenét Ramsey (w/t) has cast Jaime Ray Newman and Josh Stamberg (Fleishman is in Trouble) in recurring roles.

They join previously announced cast members Emily Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Clifton Collins Jr, Rory Cochrane, Chris Bauer, Angus Caldwell, Shea Whigham and Will Patton.

Production will begin shortly in Calgary, Canada, with Richard Lagravenese serving as showrunner and executive producer. Four of the eight episodes, including the first, will be directed by Anne Sewitsky, who also executive produces.

JonBenét Ramsey explores the tragic unsolved murder of the eponymous six-year-old beauty queen (Mitchell). It follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy as they go through the painful loss of a child while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation. At the heart of the series,...

Exclusive: Canadian actress Samora Smallwood has launched her own production company, Hold One Entertainment. The indie debuts with a greenlight from Bell Fibe’s streaming channel TV1, a rom-com series called Coming Home.

Smallwood will star and make her directorial debut in the show, which is billed as an adult coming-of-age story “that explores the humorous and poignant realities of returning to one’s roots while striving to build a future in the art.” Inspired by Smallwood’s personal experiences, it will explore the spaces between her small hometown and Hollywood.

Cast also includes Robert Ifedi (Madam Cj Walker, What We Do in the Shadows), Tommy James Murphy (Last Resort), Kevin Hanchard (Hudson & Rex, Orphan Black), Karen LeBlanc (Ginny & Georgia, Lovecraft Country) and Paula Brancati (Slasher, Degrassi: The Next Generation).

Filming will begin in the fall in Grimsby, Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. Hold One produces alongside Kalkaden Productions and RavinMurph Pictures.

Just in time for Judgment Day, Netflix has a new installment in the “Terminator” franchise for fans of the iconic, long-running sci-fi action franchise. This time, however, you won’t see any familiar faces — the series is animated. However, you might recognize some of the voices, so we’ve put together a handy guide to the “Terminator Zero” cast.

You won’t see Sarah Connor, Kyle Reese or Arnold’s T-800 in this story — it introduces a new timeline and all new characters to go with it. Set in 1997, Japan, “Terminator Zero” focuses on a developer named Malcolm Lee, who is hard at work on another AI system to compete with Skynet and save the human race. Naturally, a Terminator unit is sent back in time to target him and his three children, while a soldier from the future is sent back with a mission of her own.

André Holland...

Set within the Terminator universe, Netflix's sci-fi action anime Terminator Zero introduces a brand-new roster of characters and cast members to the storied franchise. Developed by Mattson Tomlin (The Batman) and directed by animator Masashi Kud (Bleach), the eight-episode first season of the series was beautifully crafted by animation studio Production I.G. and Skydance Television. Unlike other entries in the Terminator timeline, Terminator Zero takes place in Japan, though it still pulls in lore, including Terminator's post-apocalyptic Judgment Day, from James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd's pre-existing Terminator movies, sequels, and spin-offs.

For fans of the franchise, Terminator Zero puts forth familiar story beats, but with a few fresh twists, making the Netflix anime the definitive example of how the Terminator franchise can move forward. As Judgment Day approaches, scientist Malcolm Lee (Andr Holland) frets over whether to release his AI system, Kokoro (Rosario Dawson), to counteract the soon-to-be-launched Skynet.

USA Network’s The Rainmaker has added P.J. Byrne to its series regular cast alongside John Slattery, Milo Callaghan, Lana Parrilla and Madison Iseman.

From showrunner and executive producer Michael Seitzman and based on the John Grisham novel of the same name, The Rainmaker follows Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan) who, fresh out of law school, goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond (John Slattery) and his law school girlfriend Sarah Plankmore (Madison Iseman). Rudy, along with his boss (Lana Parrilla) and her disheveled paralegal, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.

Byrne will star as Deck Shifflet, a no-filter, shoot-from-the-hip law school grad who failed the bar seven times. He now operates as an unsentimental “paralawyer” at J. Lyman Stone.

In the 1997 film The Rainmaker from director Francis Ford Coppola, Deck was famously portrayed by Danny DeVito.

The Rainmaker received...

P.J. Byrne has joined “The Rainmaker” series adaptation at USA Network, Variety has learned.

The show was originally picked up at the cabler back in June and is based on the iconic John Grisham novel of the same name. He joins previously announced cast members Milo Callaghan, John Slattery, Madison Iseman, and Lana Parrilla in the series.

The official logline for the series states, “Fresh out of law school, Rudy Baylor (Callaghan) goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond (Slattery) as well as his law school girlfriend (Iseman). Rudy, along with his boss and her disheveled paralegal, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.”

Byrne will play Deck Shifflet, who is described as “a no-filter, shoot-from-the-hip law school grad who failed the bar seven times, Deck now operates as an unsentimental ‘paralawyer’ at J. Lyman Stone.”

Byrne is known for his roles in films...

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2024 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 13 to June 24, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 17. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 15 and ends the night of August 26. The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 15, and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.

Click on for more of our previous thoughts on what to expect at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.

The State of the Race

It has been a minute since someone playing a clear cut antagonist has won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie. The last time was probably Patricia Arquette winning in 2019 for her portrayal of...

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2024 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 13 to June 24, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 17. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 15 and ends the night of August 26. The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 15, and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.

Click on for more of our previous thoughts on what to expect at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.

The State of the Race

With the limited series races especially, nothing is set in stone. For nearly a year it looked like “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” star Evan Peters was a shoo-in for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie,...

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2024 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 13 to June 24, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 17. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 15 and ends the night of August 26. The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 15, and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.

Click on for more of our previous thoughts on what to expect at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.

The State of the Race

It could partially be because there were less Emmy submissions in a post-strike world, but the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series nominations are a lot less of a surprise than they were in the recent years there have been a limited series influx.

Ok, it’s July, and we’re well past the mid-way part of the year, so it’s time for a slightly belated Best TV Shows Of The Year… So Far, piece, and yes, the Emmy announcements just hit, so we’re slightly behind, but you should also check out that nomination list here.

TV in 2024 has had some highs and lows. Some highly anticipated series, like “Sugar” with Colin Farrell, “The Veil” with Elisabeth Moss, and “The Big Cigar” with Andre Holland, underwhelmed not only us but also many critics.

Continue reading The Best TV Shows Of The Year So Far at The Playlist.

The search for something more unites two women from different walks of life in Alma Har’el’s Lady in the Lake, even though one of them happens to be dead. A stylish new trailer certainly sets up the noir thriller, based on Laura Lippman’s 2019 novel of the same name, as one of the most intriguing shows of the summer.

Moses Ingram, recently of Apple TV+’s The Big Cigar, stars as Cleo Johnson, a young mother struggling to support her family in one of Baltimore’s underserved Black communities. Her quest unfortunately leads to her doom, but from beyond the grave, she manages to “speak” to Maddie Schwartz, a Jewish housewife turned journalist played by Natalie Portman. When Maddie becomes obsessed with Cleo’s death, it sets her on a path to enlightenment — or destruction, a fate that she would seem to share with the object of her obsession.

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2024 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 13 to June 24, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 17. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 15 and ends the night of August 26. The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 15, and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.

The State of the Race

There are a lot less serial killer roles this time around when it comes to the contenders for the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie, though “True Detective: Night Country” and “Fargo” are still doing their best to keep the crime wave alive. Both the HBO and FX series boast several actors...

My name is Fredrika Newton. I am the widow of Dr. Huey P. Newton, who co-founded the Black Panther Party in 1966 with Bobby Seale while they were both college students at Merritt College in Oakland, California.

Huey and the Black Panther Party are featured in a new series now streaming on Apple TV+ titled The Big Cigar, of which the final episode released on Friday. (André Holland portrays Huey P. Newton.) I was not involved in the creation of this series, but I do have a few things to say.

If you’ve been watching along, you’ll know that The Big Cigar is an adaptation of an extremely harrowing and dangerous time in Huey’s life, as he along with his first wife Gwen, escaped the United States for Cuba in 1974 after he was falsely accused of murder.

I was also a former rank and file member of The Black Panther Party.

The biographical drama series on AppleTV+, The Big Cigar, comes to an end this week with the release of episode 6, as the story of Huey P. Newton’s brave effort to escape to Cuba is rounded up. In the previous episode, Huey, his partner Gwen, and his producer friend from Hollywood, Steve Blauner, were seen in a terrible fix as the Mexican federal police had reached their small hideout in Puerto Vallarta looking for them. This episode portrays the last leg of their long, arduous, and almost impossible escape from the United States, as their old friend, Bert Schneider, is also here to help them out.

Spoiler Alert

Why is Huey upset with Bert?

The Big Cigar episode 6 begins right in the middle of the action in Puerto Vallarta, with the Mexican federales officers still interrogating the young man at the house, Aldo. Meanwhile, Huey and his friends are still...

Best Apple TV+ Shows To Watch In June 2024 ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

To all the Netflix and Chill people out there, have you checked out the Apple TV+ offerings? The streaming service launched in 2019 initially struggled to find a foothold amid a sea of established and emerging streamers.

Four years later, Apple TV+ has found its footing in the original content realm with a diverse library of mind-bending sci-fi dramas, comedies, and documentaries that can compete with any Netflix and/or HBO Max content.

Here are our picks for the best shows on the service this month. ‘Dark Matter’

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Dark Matter is currently leading the Apple TV+. The series, starring Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connely, is based on Blake Crouch’s best-selling book about a scientist abducted into another world. The series captures Jason’s harrowing journey as he...

This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and our monthly breakdown of What’s on Streaming.

With over 500 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.

More from TVLineWhat’s New on Netflix in June — Plus: Disney+, Max, Amazon and OthersChristmas Comes Early! Your...

AppleTV+’s biographical drama series The Big Cigar continues on the journey of taking its central character, Huey P. Newton, towards his emergency exile in Cuba, as the FBI are almost about to catch him. In the previous episode, we saw Huey finally being helped by Steve Blauner to escape the United States. They successfully drove into Mexico, avoiding the FBI agent, Sydney Clark, who was close in pursuit of them. In this week’s The Big Cigar episode 5, Huey struggles to remain hidden in Mexico and is also rocked by the news of a sad demise back in the United States.

Spoiler Alert

Why does Huey struggle in Mexico?

At the end of episode 4, Steve Blauner and Huey P. Newton drove over to the Mexican border from Los Angeles and managed to cross over, leaving the United States behind. Their intention was to take a private flight from the...

AppleTV+’s biographical drama series The Big Cigar continues with its action in this week’s episode 4, as political activist Huey P. Newton still faces the threat of arrest from the FBI for a murder that he seemingly did not commit. While his friends, film producer Bert Schneider and his professional partner Steve Blauner, had originally planned to fly Huey to Cuba with the help of a pilot named Tajo, the latter had actually duped them. In The Big Cigar episode 4, Bert and Steve make another attempt to help out their dear friend in the face of unjust harassment from the authorities.

Spoiler Alert

How does Bert Schneider mess up the plan?

The Big Cigar episode 4 begins with Bert Schneider rushing to the restaurant where a violent shooting incident had just taken place, as he can be technically held responsible for the whole ordeal. It was Bert who had arranged...

The Big Cigar is a biographical drama thriller miniseries created by Jim Hecht. Based on the 2012 Playboy article of the same name by Joshua Bearman, the Apple TV+ series is set in the 1970s and it follows the story of Black Panther party founder Huey P. Newton as he tries to escape from the FBI to Cuba with the help of film and TV producer Bert Schneider.

If you love historical figures and their stories, The Big Cigar is for you as we get an in-depth look at the life of Huey P. Newton. So, if you love the Apple TV+ biographical series here are all the release dates for its upcoming episodes.

The Big Cigar – Episode Guide (When Will The New Episodes Come Out?) Credit – Apple TV+

The Big Cigar consists of six episodes in total. The biographical drama miniseries premiered on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes...

Andre Holland shines as Huey P. Newton in The Big Cigar, earning praise for his portrayal of the iconic Black Panther Party co-founder. The series opens to positive reviews with a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, showcasing the deep dive into Newton's life and legacy. The Big Cigar sheds light on Newton's controversial past, including his exile to Cuba in 1974 and his eventual tragic murder in 1989.

Apple's new historical limited series The Big Cigar takes a deep dive into the life of Huey P. Newton, the co-founder of the Black Panther Party. Andr Holland leads The Big Cigar's cast as the main protagonist based on the real-life historical figure Huey P. Newton, who tried to flee the United States for Cuba in an elaborate plan that was code-named "The Big Cigar." Interestingly, Holland recently starred in the 2024 historical drama Shirley as Walter Fauntroy, which also featured an appearance by Huey P.

The Big Cigar on Apple TV+ follows Huey P. Newton's escape from the FBI in the 1960s with Hollywood help. Critics praise the strong performances and chemistry between lead actors in the biographical drama. Real-life characters like FBI agent Sydney Clark and Bert Schneider add depth to the series.

The Big Cigar features an elaborate ensemble cast led by Andr Holland as Huey P. Newton and Tiffany Boone as Gwen Fontaine. The Apple TV+ show is a biographical drama that follows Huey P. Newton, the leader of the Black Panther Party, and his journey of being on the run from the FBI in the 1960s. The six-episode series sees Huey collaborate with Bert Schneider, a big-shot Hollywood producer who helps Huey escape the FBI by casting him in a fake big-budget movie titled The Big Cigar.

Created by Janine Sherman Barrois, The Big Cigar is a biographical drama based...

Plot: The incredible true story of Hollywood revolution meeting social revolution: it’s a wild caper of Black Panther founder Huey Newton escaping from the FBI to Cuba with the help of famed producer Bert Schneider in an impossibly elaborate plan – involving a fake movie production — that goes wrong every way it possibly can. And somehow, it’s all true. Mostly.

Review: The stories of revolutionary political figures and social reformers have been popular for big and small screen adaptations for decades. There seems to be more focus on the 1960s and 1970s than any other period in American history. The 2021 film Judas and the Black Messiah looked at controversial figure Fred Hampton, while this year’s Shirley chronicled Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s run for United States President. While these and the stories of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X have made for acclaimed productions, the story of Black...

In the opening narration of The Big Cigar, actor André Holland, who portrays Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton in the Apple TV+ biographical drama, delivers a disclaimer about the events that will be portrayed onscreen: “The story I’m about to tell you is true, at least mostly true, at least how I remember it,” Holland says. “But it is coming through the lens of Hollywood, so let’s see how much of my story they’re really willing to show.”

The statement both echoes concerns Holland had about taking on the project and sets the tone for the element of humor that underlies the retelling of Newton’s first dealings with the Hollywood machine when bigtime producer Bert Schneider, in his zeal for social justice causes, nearly begs the revolutionary leader to help him spread his message of resistance. Biting off far more than he expected to chew,...

André Holland fights the power and impacts Hollywood’s framework in his role as real-life figure Huey P. Newton in Apple TV+’s “The Big Cigar,” which landed on the streamer on Friday and marks the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.

The six-episode limited series is based on Joshuah Bearman’s (“Argo”) magazine article “The Big Cigar.” Per Apple TV+’s description of the show, it “tells the incredible true story of Hollywood revolution meeting social revolution. It’s a wild caper about Black Panther founder Huey P. Newton escaping from the FBI to Cuba with the assistance of famed producer Bert Schneider in an impossibly elaborate plan – involving a fake movie production – that goes wrong every way it possibly can.”

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch.

When does “The Big Cigar” Premiere?

“The Big Cigar” premieres on Apple TV+ Friday,...

In “The Big Cigar,” contradictions weigh heavily on Huey P. Newton (played by the magnificent André Holland). He sees them everywhere. For instance, Huey notes that the NRA contradicted their general ideology by helping the GOP pass gun control laws in the 1960s, all because they were afraid of the group Newton co-founded: the Black Panthers. He’s also keenly aware of the contradiction inherent to a Black man being “set free” from a prison of bars and stone into the prison of the American way. “Contrary to propagated belief, I’m not living to die, but I am refusing to live without liberation,” Huey says during his opening voice-over narration.

He even acknowledges the contradiction inherent to “The Big Cigar” itself, saying, “The story I’m about to tell you is true. […] But it is coming through the lens of Hollywood, so let’s see how much of my...

Apple TV+ is about to debut its latest historical TV series, and it’s likely to be one of the wackiest titles yet from the service. “The Big Cigar” debuts on Thursday, May 16 on Apple TV+, and follows the story of Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton and his flight from the FBI. Newton feels the need to get out of the country, and hatches an unlikely scheme with the help of a Hollywood film producer involving a fake movie in order to execute his exodus. You can watch The Big Cigar with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+.

How to Watch ‘The Big Cigar’ Premiere When: Thursday, May 16, 2024 Where: Apple TV+ Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month apple.com About ‘The Big Cigar’ Premiere

Based on the magazine article by Joshuah Bearman — who will also serve as executive producer for...

How can you be a leader to your people if you’re on the run from them? It’s a fascinating question, one that could serve as the basis for a great book or film, but one that’s hard to embed in a six-part mini-series, a format that proves the wrong one for the story of how a fake movie played a role in the life of Black Panthers leader Huey P. Newton.

Continue reading ‘The Big Cigar’ Review: Great André Holland Performance Gets Lost in Cluttered Apple Mini-Series at The Playlist.

Welcome to the 259th episode of TV’s Top 5, The Hollywood Reporter’s TV podcast.

Every week, hosts Lesley Goldberg (West Coast TV editor) and Daniel Fienberg (chief TV critic) break down the latest TV news with context from the business and critical sides, welcome showrunners, executives and other guests, and provide a critical guide of what to watch (or skip, as the case may be).

Here’s how this week’s episode plays out:

1. Headlines

Will Ferrell, Anthony Mackie, Seth Meyers, The Other Black Girl and Not Dead Yet lead the week’s non-upfronts TV industry headlines.

2. Upfronts: Amazon, Netflix

The streamers officially made their first in-person pitches to Madison Avenue ad buyers and the strategy Amazon employed — a ton of news! — vs. Netflix’s approach (they’re the culture!) couldn’t be more different.

3. Upfronts: Legacy media companies (aka everyone else)

Warner Bros. Discovery had next to no...

High production values & chemistry between Holland and Nivola elevate Apple TV+ series The Big Cigar. The unbalanced tone affects storytelling, but stunning visuals and score add depth to the plot. Nonlinear narrative and mismatched tone hold back the potential of strong performances in The Big Cigar.

Jim Hechts The Big Cigar tells the story of Hollywood and the Black Panthers joining forces to pull off a daring escapade. The ever-reliable Andre Holland (the Oscar-winning movie Moonlight) stars as Huey Newton in a performance that is certainly worthy of the actor's talent. It's a fine series, but paired with a script that is all over the place, neither the story nor the performance hit their peaks.

6/10 ProsThe Big Cigar has a high production value - costumes, visuals, etc. are stunningAndre Holland and Alessandro Nivola have great chemistryConsThe Big Cigar doesn't quite get the tone rightThe story never hits its stride

The...

The Big Cigar, a new limited series on Apple TV+ that debuts on May 17, dramatizes a wild true story from the New Hollywood period of the 1970s.

Huey P. Newton, the co-founder of The Black Panther Party, had befriended a group of countercultural figures ruling Tinseltown at the time.

Bert Schneider and Steve Blauner were part of the generation that brought the values of the 1960s counterculture to the movie business through films such as Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces, as well as the work of The Monkees.

This also entailed bankrolling and supporting left-wing political causes, including the Black Panthers' work.

But that approach had its limits.

The series, which consists of six episodes lasting about 40 minutes each, was produced by Jim Hecht, an executive producer of Winning Time.

Don Cheadle is among the episode directors.

Revolution and cocaine

Early on in the Big Cigar, Schneider exclaims, “I want to finance the revolution!

Near the end of The Big Cigar, a six-episode limited series from Jim Hecht, Huey P. Newton sits down at a typewriter, musing over how to tell a story and how each one has multiple storytellers and thus different versions. He then references (via typically clunky voiceover narration) a classic moment from the John Ford Western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, in which one character says “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”...

At one point in the new Apple TV+ miniseries The Big Cigar, Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton (André Holland) attends a party and recalls the time he and film producer Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) tried to write a movie about his life, which would have starred comedian Richard Pryor (Inny Clemons). The key, Schneider explains: “If it’s gonna be a biopic, you have to choose a moment in Huey’s life that means something. Don’t just make it womb to tomb.”

Though The Big Cigar features...

Adapted from Joshuah Bearman’s 2012 Playboy article of the same name, The Big Cigar brings another piece of culture writing to mind: New York Times critic James Poniewozik’s “The Comfortable Problem with Mid TV.” The series has some visual panache, a lively soundtrack, a great cast, and an important story to tell. And it makes for a really good thumbnail on the Apple TV+ app. But The Big Cigar lacks the craft and conviction of the “great” shows and films it imitates. It’s good in places, bad in others, but mostly just mid.

The series follows Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton (André Holland) as he attempts to flee the U.S. before the feds can arrest him on a bogus murder charge. Without many allies to call on, Newton enlists the help of sympathetic, if slightly harebrained, movie producers Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) and Stephen Blauner...

To celebrate the release of The Big Cigar on Apple TV+, we spoke to the cast of the new series.

Telling the story of Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton, The Big Cigar sees Huey team up with Hollywood producers to escape to Cuba following a false murder conviction.

We spoke to Andre Holland about his starring role as Huey and the pressure of depicting a real life figure. We also spoke to Pj Byrne and Alessandro Nivola about the relationship between their two characters. Finally, we spoke to Tiffany Boone about the importance of women within the Black Panther movement.

The six-episode drama premieres globally on May 17th with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Friday through June 14.

The Big Cigar Cast Interviews

The post The Big Cigar Cast Interviews: André Holland, Tiffany Boone, P J Byrne & Alessandro Nivola appeared first on HeyUGuys.

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The Big Cigar is a six-episode limited series that tells the incredible true story of how Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces producers Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) and Stephen Blauner (P. J. Byrne) helped Black Panthers leader Huey P. Newton escape American law enforcement for exile in Cuba an incredible feat considering that Newton was the FBI's most wanted man at the time.

The Apple TV+ black comedy is adapted from a 2012 Playboy magazine article by award-winning journalist Joshuah Bearman, who also wrote the source material for Argo. Please watch above and read below our interview with Alessandro Nivola and P. J. Byrne, where they discuss working with star Andr Holland, director Don Cheadle, and why rich white Hollywood moguls became so enamored by a Black revolutionary.

Alessandro Nivola on Huey Newton's Counterculture Legitimacy

The Big Cigar (2024) BiographyDramaThriller

The Big Cigar...

Revolution can neither be made nor stopped - you can only be the revolution. Apple TV+s upcoming miniseries The Big Cigar chronicles the true story of the manhunt for Huey P. Newton (Andr Holland), the founder of the Black Panther Party. Living in a period where change is considered controversial, Newton chose to walk on a path deemed provocative. A caring citizen by heart, the magnetic activist is passionate about creating a better world for his community and the generations ahead. Unfortunately, every step Newton takes is considered a threat to the government. With the FBI breathing down on his neck, Newtons life is on the line, and the only option is to escape the country. Fortunately, theres someone who can help him evade the feds and get to Cuba: Hollywood producer Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola).

Schmigadoon! is getting an unexpected encore. After being cancelled earlier this year, the Apple TV+ musical comedy will live again, this time as a stage production in Washington D.C.

As part of its 2024–2025 season, the The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is staging the world premiere of a new musical based on the short-lived series, featuring familiar tunes from the show (“Corn Puddin'”!) as well as brand-new songs written for this production.

More from TVLineColin Farrell's Sugar Just Served Up the Most Wtf Plot Twist in YearsPresumed Innocent Trailer: Jake Gyllenhaal Is Suspected of Murder...

Welcome to the 257th episode of TV’s Top 5, The Hollywood Reporter’s TV podcast.

Every week, hosts Lesley Goldberg (West Coast TV editor) and Daniel Fienberg (chief TV critic) break down the latest TV news with context from the business and critical sides, welcome showrunners, executives and other guests, and provide a critical guide of what to watch (or skip, as the case may be).

Here’s how this week’s episode plays out:

1. Headlines

Elizabeth Banks, Robin Wright, Scooby-Doo, Chuck Lorre, Ty Burrell, Steve Carell, The Office, Law & Order: Organized Crime and NCIS: Hawai’i lead the week’s top headlines.

2. Paramount Global changes

Bob Bakish is out as Paramount Global CEO, with a trio of execs — Brian Robbins, George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy — taking over as Skydance and Sony make their offers to buy the media giant.

3. CBS’ victory

The network this week took a victory lap after...

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You hear that? ? Summer movie season is about to begin. If it has an official kickoff date it’s Friday, May 3, which marks the debut of The Fall Guy, the first big, multiplex-friendly blockbuster of a season surprisingly (refreshingly?) light on the superhero fare that’s defined it for the past decade or so. May has a ton of must-see titles, from Anne Hathaway’s The Idea of You...