HBO adds more cast including Yara Shahidi and Wendell Pierce to star-studded production of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between The World And Me
HBO has announced additional cast for its upcoming special based on the acclaimed Ta-Nehisi Coates nonfiction book Between The World And Me.
Joining previously announced stars Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance and Oprah Winfrey will be When They See Us Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome, Jack Ryan and The Wire star Wendell Pierce, Yara Shahidi from Black-ish and Pose’s Mj Rodriguez and Janet Mock.
The production will be based on a stage adaptation of the book performed at the Apollo Theater in 2018, THR.com reported Wednesday.
New cast: Yara Shahidi from Black-ish, left, and Jack Ryan and The Wire star Wendell Pierce, right, are joining the HBO special Between The World And Me, it was announced Wednesday
Coates’ best-seller published in 2015 takes the form of a letter to his teenage son.
It recounts the author’s experience growing up in inner-city Baltimore and his growing fear of daily violence against the Black community.
The narrative sets out Coates’ belief that white supremacy and racism are ingrained in American culture and institutions, and represent an indestructible force that can’t be completely overcome.
Best-seller: Between The World And Me is a nonfiction book published by Ta-Nehisi Coates, pictured in February, and takes the form of a letter to his son about being Black in America
Leads: The production will be based on a stage adaptation of the book performed at the Apollo Theater in 2018 and stars Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, pictured in 2015
Star-studded: Oprah Winfrey is also among previously announced stars of the special that’s currently in production and slated to premiere on HBO and HBO Max in the fall
Rising star: Also announced as joining the cast Wednesday is actor Jharrel Jerome, pictured in January, who won an Emmy for his performance in the Netflix mini series When They See Us
The HBO Max special will incorporate archival footage and video from Coates’ home life as well as animation and readings from the book.
Also on board the project are poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph, jazz pianist/composer Jason Moran, Broadway actress Michelle Wilson, Denzel Washington’s actress wife Pauletta Washington and This Is Us star Susan Kelechi Watson.
The special is currently in production under COVID-19 guidelines, according to Deadline.com, and is slated to premiere in the fall on HBO and HBO Max.
Cast: This Is Us star Susan Kelechi Watson, pictured in January, is also on board the production that will use documentary and archive footage and animation to bring Coates’ book to life
On board: Taking part, too, are Pose’s Mj Rodriguez, left in February, and Janet Mock, right in February