While Apple TV+ still has an uphill battle to compete with the likes of Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+ for subscription numbers and viewership, they keep attracting high-profile projects. Many creatives are gravitating towards the streaming service, and a new show focusing on The Black Panthers only highlights this.
The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that “Moonlight” actor Andre Holland (“The Knick,” “Castle Rock“) is in talks to play Huey P. Newton in “The Big Cigar.” The limited series will chronicle the Black Panthers leader as he escapes to Cuba after a nationwide manhunt and looks for help from a friend, “Easy Rider” producer Bert Schneider.
“The Big Cigar” is based on the Playboy Magazine article and written by “Winning Time” co-creator Jim Hecht with “Claws” creator Janine Sherman Barrios serving as the showrunner.
That’s not the only big acquisition for the series as Don Cheadle (“No Sudden Move“) is said to be directing the first two episodes. Cheadle isn’t a stranger to directing, having helmed episodes of his series “House of Lies” and the Miles Davis biopic “Miles Ahead” back in 2015.
The Oscar-winning film “Judas & The Black Messiah” by director Shaka King also tackled The Black Panthers, focusing on the FBI infiltrating the group and looking to take down Fred Hampton. The Hampton role earned Daniel Kaluuya a Best Supporting Actor statue and makes the prospect of a television show focusing on the group a potential Emmy contender if handled properly.
It’s unclear if Cheadle will have a role in “The Big Cigar.” He’s also attached to star in an upcoming Marvel series spinoff, “Armor Wars,” as the tech-based superhero War Machine.