NAACP Image Award and Peabody Award-winning actress Nia Long is set to be honored with the 2,857th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony will take place on September 16 at 11:30 AM PT at 6150 Hollywood Boulevard, where she will receive her star in the Motion Pictures category. Variety correspondent Angelique Jackson will emcee the event, joined by guest speakers Snoop Dogg and film producer Graham King. The ceremony will be streamed live exclusively at www.walkoffame.com.

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Nia Long to the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” stated Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer. “Nia is such a beloved and talented actress, and we’re so excited to celebrate her incredible career with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has brought so many unforgettable characters to life and has connected with audiences for decades. It’s wonderful to see her receive this well-deserved honor.”

Long’s early screen credits include roles in 227 (1986), The B.R.A.T. Patrol (1986), and Guiding Light (1991–1994), alongside her breakout film performance as Brandi in John Singleton’s seminal 1991 drama Boyz n the Hood. On television, she went on to star in classic series including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1994–1995), Boston Legal, and Third Watch (2003–2005), the latter earning her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.

Her extensive filmography includes defining roles across Black cinema classics, including Friday (1995), Soul Food (1997), Love Jones (1997)—which garnered her a Black Film Award nomination—The Best Man (1999), Big Momma’s House (2000), and Are We There Yet? (2005). Long continued to anchor major franchises in The Best Man Holiday (2013), the thriller Fatal Affair (2020), and The Best Man: The Final Chapters (2022), winning a 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special.

Beyond acting, Long has expanded her work behind the camera and across music culture. She appeared in Kanye West’s “Touch the Sky” music video and co-directed Ashanti’s “Baby” music video, in addition to directing Yolanda Adams’ video for “This Too Shall Pass.” She also executive produced Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (2024), which earned a Peabody Award. Most recently, she portrayed Katherine Jackson in Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, and she stars in and executive produces Netflix’s upcoming romantic drama Don’t Ever Wonder.

–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm

A first-look image of Gabrielle Union in the supernatural horror ‘Casket Girls’ has been unveiled ahead of the film’s release, with international rights currently being sold by Capture at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) market. Union stars opposite Mike Colter.

According to the official logline, the film follows “Detective Shay Williams (Union) and her partner Galpin (Colter) as they investigate a child’s supernatural encounter and accidentally release the legendary ‘Casket Girls’ from beneath a centuries-old New Orleans church. Trapped inside, they and a handful of survivors must outwit the bloodthirsty vampires before they’re picked off one by one.”

The ensemble cast also features Raúl Castillo, Matt Frewer, and Thomas Lennon.

‘Casket Girls’ is directed by Justin G. Dyck (Creepshow), with Sean McKittrick and Raymond Mansfield producing for QC Entertainment (Get Out, BlacKkKlansman). Edward H. Hamm Jr., Jameson Parker, and Gabrielle Union serve as executive producers.

–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm

Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins returns to the stage with Purpose, directed by Keith Arthur Bolden in a co-production with McCarter Theatre Center.

The play centers on the Jasper family, a prominent Black political dynasty built on generations of ministry, activism, and public service. When an unexpected visitor arrives and begins challenging the family’s carefully protected history, long-buried tensions and secrets quickly rise to the surface.

Set over a single evening, Purpose explores family, faith, political legacy, and the difficult choices that come with confronting uncomfortable truths. Jacobs-Jenkins blends sharp humor with dramatic tension to examine what individuals owe to their families, communities, and themselves.

The cast features Donna Biscoe as Claudine Jasper, Veanna Black as Morgan Jasper, Jay Jones as Junior Jasper, Victoria Omoregie as Aziza Houston, Travis Turner as Nazareth Jasper, and Cornell Womack as Solomon Jasper.

The understudy cast includes Robert Connor as Solomon Jasper, Sheri Gilbert-Wilson as Claudine Jasper, Ashlee McNeill as Aziza Houston, Brittani Minnieweather as Morgan Jasper, Charlie Thomas as Junior Jasper, and Roderick Whitney as Nazareth Jasper.

With its mix of family drama, political conflict, and dark comedy, Purpose offers a provocative look at legacy and the courage required to challenge the stories that hold families together.

The series adaptation of Kennedy Ryan’s bestselling novel ‘Before I Let Go’—the first installment in her Skyland book series—has officially landed a series order at Peacock. Sister duo Attica Locke (When They See Us) and Tembi Locke (From Scratch) will serve as showrunners and write alongside Ryan and Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man franchise, Girls Trip), who is also attached to direct.

Before I Let Go follows Yasmen and Josiah Wade, a couple whose marriage was expected to last forever until back-to-back tragedies tore it apart and proved that love can’t solve everything. The life they created fell apart and the two were left to navigate divorce and shared custody. When Yasmen begins finding joy again, staying close to Josiah reignites a spark while reopening past heartbreak. Ultimately, both are left to question whether they can truly move on—or if a second chance could offer a better future.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the screen adaptation, Ryan shared: “Getting the chance to bring the Skyland series to life onscreen is a dream come true. I’m excited about what this remarkable team is creating. Co-writing the pilot with Malcolm D. Lee and now imagining this world with Attica and Tembi is more than I even knew to ask for. These characters have meant so much to so many readers, and none of this would be possible without the people who have supported my work for years. I’m incredibly grateful and excited to find a new audience for these books that have changed my life.”

Produced by Universal Global Television and Universal Television, the project is executive produced by the Locke sisters, Ryan, Lee, Dominique Telson, Debra Martin Chase, and Get Lifted Film Co.’s Mike Jackson and John Legend.

–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm

Turnstr+ is bringing you its first highly anticipated original, ‘Forever This Ring,’ starring Taye Diggs, Erica Mena, Marques Houston, Loretta Devine, La’Myia Good, Malik Whitfield & Troy Brookins, & Executive Produced by TOP DAWG. STREAMING FREE OCTOBER 2ND. Head to http://turnstrplus.com and SIGN UP FREE NOW.

The Pynk is back open for business—one last time! Starz has unveiled the official teaser for the third and final season of ‘P-Valley,’ the drama series created by Pulitzer-winning playwright Katori Hall and based on her acclaimed stage play. The final chapter kicks off December 4 with a special two-episode premiere.

According to the official logline, the arrival of the new Promised Land Casino brings a flood of wealth and fresh chaos to Chucalissa. As dreamers, schemers, ballers, and shot-callers flock to town chasing a massive payday, the stakes reach an all-time high. At The Pynk, Uncle Clifford (Nicco Annan) sets her sights on expanding her territory, while Roulette (Gail Bean) breaks a sacred club rule to stake her own claim. Meanwhile, Lil’ Murda (J. Alphonse Nicholson) struggles under the weight of his gang affiliations, and Keyshawn (Shannon Thornton) fights to escape her ongoing confinement.

The core ensemble returns for the farewell season, led by Nicco Annan as Uncle Clifford, Brandee Evans as Mercedes, Shannon Thornton as Keyshawn, and J. Alphonse Nicholson as Lil’ Murda. The cast also features Harriett D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson, Gail Bean, Psalms Salazar, Morocco Omari, Dominic DeVore, Jordan M. Cox, Thomas Q. Jones, Bertram Williams Jr., Mea Wilkerson, and Loretta Devine.

Series creator Katori Hall continues her role as showrunner and executive producer for the Lionsgate Television production. Joining her as co-executive producers are Jennifer Arnold, Debbie Hayn-Cass, Kemiyondo Coutinho, and Ian Olympio. In a heartfelt letter to fans accompanying the announcement, Hall expressed deep gratitude to the audience for their support over the show’s 17-year journey from stage to screen. Calling the three-season run a “visual novel of 27 chapters” and her “finest work,” she shared that ending the series on her own terms allows her to deliver a farewell designed to celebrate the community built around the show.

Following the two-episode debut on December 4, the remaining episodes of the nine-episode season will drop weekly on Fridays across the Starz app as well as all Starz streaming and on-demand platforms.

–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm

FX has dropped the official trailer for Season 13 of Ryan Murphy’s hit anthology series ‘American Horror Story,’ offering fans an exciting look at Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe, and Orlando Jones alongside returning franchise veterans Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters.

Season 13 brings back fan-favorite cast members Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, and John Carroll Lynch. The new chapter also expands its roster with fresh faces, including Orlando Jones stepping into the role of Papa Legba, alongside Paul Anthony Kelly, John Waters, Avantika Vandanapu, Joey Pollari, and Alex Consani.

Produced by 20th Television, the season is executive produced by Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ned Martel, Charlie Carver, Eric Kovtun, and Nissa Diederich, with Scott Robertson, Tanase Popa, Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Jennifer Salt, and Tim Minear also serving as executive producers.

‘American Horror Story’ Season 13 premieres on September 24 via FX and Hulu. The 13-episode season kicks off with back-to-back three-episode events across its first two weeks, followed by a two-episode rollout every Thursday until the finale lands on October 29.

–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm

Boom! ‘Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Again?’ has officially made its debut today on Netflix.

The beloved group of friends gathers once more for a joyful occasion: the wedding of Marcus and Angela’s daughter. However, despite the years that have passed since their last reunion, old habits and familiar dynamics resurface immediately, leaving everyone to ponder the timeless dilemma of why they walked down the aisle in the first place.

Oscar-nominated star Taraji P. Henson joins the franchise for its third chapter, sharing the screen with original ensemble cast members Tasha Smith, Sharon Leal, Michael Jai White, Lamman Rucker, and Jill Scott. In addition to stepping back into his onscreen role, Perry once again pulled triple duty as writer, producer, and director for the feature.

–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm

Upscale Media Films is officially expanding into a full-service production company focused on the rapidly growing microdrama and vertical content market.

Founded by CEO Malik Davis, the company is building its business around acquiring and controlling published book properties, then developing, casting, producing and delivering projects through an in-house production pipeline. The model is designed to reduce traditional development and packaging costs while allowing the company to move quickly from existing intellectual property to vertical series and potentially longer-form film and television adaptations.

Upscale is currently using the strategy through its partnership with Hartbeat on a slate of vertical series adapted from bestselling author Blake Karrington’s novels for microdrama platform aTwist. The projects could later be developed into feature films or traditional television series.

Karrington’s catalog includes more than 20 titles slated for adaptation. His books have reportedly sold over 16.5 million units and generated more than 271 million page reads. The author is now working directly with Upscale’s development team to bring his stories and characters into the vertical format.

In addition to adapting existing IP, Upscale is developing original projects. The company is currently producing Exotic Foods, a 10-episode horror anthology created through its hybrid AI-assisted production workflow. Other projects in development include Trapstar, The King of the South, Single Ladies, Scandalous and the feature film R.I.C.O. ATL.

Upscale has also secured rights to a story involving actor Quinton Aaron, titled Blindsided by Love, which is being developed for Hartbeat. Another upcoming microdrama, The Brown Family, will feature original music from Organized Noize, alongside a companion album released through Universal Music Group’s Chamber Studios.

The company’s growing team includes Davis, Karrington, CFO and executive producer Tiffaney Collins, casting director Rhavynn Drummer, Latino division executive producer Liana Mendoza, Chief AI Officer Delmone Rivers and director of photography Kareen “Curley the 5th” Oda, along with a full production crew.

As vertical storytelling continues to gain momentum, Upscale Media Films is positioning itself to develop, produce and scale content from existing audiences and original ideas under one production ecosystem.

Writers are now seeking non-traditional routes into a system that requires them to wear multiple hats. Shannan chooses to introduce her feature screenplay, The Weight of Silence to Hollywood by inviting a small group of execs into the world of Houston’s Black rodeo culture, a culture introduced to her by her late father, Sidney “Sid the Cowboy” Johnson.

Logline: After her estranged father, a revered Black cowboy, is murdered in a string of serial decapitations, Kennedy, a sharp, guarded butcher returns home to bury him and get the hell out of Houston, only to be pulled into an investigation that reignites a toxic love triangle and exposes the buried family secret she’s spent her life running from.

WOS Live: WHO KILLED CALVIN? is presented by The Professional Pen, presented by LATex Media, directed by Jason Dirden, with creative direction from Artis J. Olds.

Cast: (Pictured L:R) Birgundi Baker, Omar J. Dorsey, Zachariah Rogers, Jon Chaffin, Deborah Joy Winans, Rolando Boyce, Sr., Geffri Maya, Jessica Frances Dukes, (Not pictured) Cairo Spencer, LeShay T. Boyce, Amad Jackson, Jeff Prater, Reno Warmath, Jeremie Rivers, Shari “Ri” Bihms, Maria Pallas, Misty Anderson, Paul Archer, Michael Monks

On Saturday, September 5, FX brought the sound, style and creative energy of early-’90s hip-hop to South Los Angeles with “The Drop: Neighborhood Sessions Event,” a daylong community celebration inspired by the world of the new series, FX’s “The Drop: A Snowfall Saga.”

The outdoor activation brought together local food, shopping and interactive experiences rooted in the surrounding community. Guests explored a marketplace of local artists and Black-owned businesses curated by Black on the Block, including The Black Los Angeles, TAP Candle Company and Ninety Four Frames. Guests also enjoyed food from Nay’s Tacos and Marathon Burger.

Attendees had the opportunity to create their own album covers through a lowrider-inspired photo experience and customize airbrushed tote bags.

Inside Somerville, the series’ musical themes came to life through live performances by Dom Kennedy and Ty Dolla $ign, curated by “The Voice of L.A.,” award-winning radio personality Big Boy. Following the performances, guests enjoyed a special screening of the series’ first episode.

Cast members Gail Bean, Isaiah John, Asante Blackk, Peyton Alex Smith, Simmie “Buddy” Sims III, Nicki Micheaux, Brandon Mychal Smith, Eric Balfour, Isidora Goreshter and Quincy Chad joined fans throughout the celebration.

“Neighborhood Sessions” was part of a broader citywide rollout inviting fans to experience the world of FX’s “The Drop: A Snowfall Saga” through collaborations with brands rooted in South Los Angeles.

Participating businesses included Randy’s Donuts, Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, Marathon Burger and The Marathon Clothing. The campaign features limited-edition menu items, co-branded packaging, in-store installations and exclusive merchandise available throughout the city.

FX’s “The Drop: A Snowfall Saga” premieres September 8 on FX and Hulu.

Filmmaker, director, producer, studio owner, distributor, and streaming entrepreneur Mann Robinson is expanding his growing entertainment ecosystem with the launch of Urban Operas, a new vertical streaming platform created to bring culturally connected, mobile-first storytelling directly to audiences.

The platform will debut with 15 original micro-drama series produced by Robinson and his production team specifically for Urban Operas.

For Robinson, Urban Operas is not simply another streaming application. It represents the latest expansion of the vertically integrated entertainment ecosystem he has spent years building across nearly every stage of the content business.

The launch of Urban Operas marks another evolution in Robinson’s larger strategy of moving beyond simply producing content and toward building infrastructure around the audiences consuming it.

When asked about the inspiration behind the new platform, Robinson says:

“For me, this has never been about just making another movie. I wanted to understand the entire business and build as much of the infrastructure as we could. Production is one piece. Distribution is another. Marketing is another. Equipment is another. Owning the platform and having a direct relationship with the audience is another. Urban Operas brings those pieces together around a new format that I believe is going to become an important part of entertainment.”

Robinson says the idea for Urban Operas came from watching new entertainment formats develop and recognizing a familiar problem before it had the opportunity to repeat itself.

In his own words:

“Every time a new format or opportunity develops in entertainment, creators eventually start asking where their content belongs. I didn’t want us to wait until vertical entertainment was completely established and then start looking around for somewhere our stories could live. We already know how to produce the content. We understand distribution. We understand streaming. We understand this audience. This time, I wanted us to build the home early.”

Built around the tagline, “Stories That Know Us,” Urban Operas will feature serialized dramas created specifically for mobile viewing. Episodes will be short and fast-moving, built around compelling characters, emotional storytelling, cliffhangers, relationships, romance, crime, family, betrayal, ambition, money, power, and experiences Robinson believes remain underserved within the rapidly expanding vertical entertainment marketplace.

Urban Operas is not being created in opposition to the major companies already operating in the vertical entertainment space. Instead, Robinson sees an opportunity to expand the marketplace by creating a platform with a distinct cultural identity and programming philosophy.

When discussing what makes Urban Operas unique, Robinson says:

“The major platforms have their audiences and the types of programming that make sense for their businesses. I respect that. I saw an opportunity to build something from our perspective. There should be a destination where our stories aren’t simply another category somewhere inside the platform. They are the foundation of the platform. That’s what Urban Operas is being built to become. Original content will remain at the center of Urban Operas.”

Production on the first group of Urban Operas Originals is already underway, with additional series titles, trailers, and well-known cast announcements scheduled to be revealed leading up to launch. Robinson expects the company’s internally produced original slate to serve as the foundation of the Urban Operas brand.

While simultaneously launching his own original content, Robinson also wants Urban Operas to provide an additional streaming opportunity for independent filmmakers who have already entered the vertical storytelling space.

Urban Operas will accept completed vertical micro-dramas from independent filmmakers and production companies seeking a streaming home for their projects. Outside submissions will be handled through an approved list of aggregators and the company’s distribution partner, Blue Honey Distribution, rather than through direct filmmaker uploads.

Filmmakers interested in having completed vertical projects considered for Urban Operas will be able to find information regarding approved submission partners, eligibility requirements, revenue participation, and additional submission details through the official Urban Operas website at www.urbanoperas.com.

Selected outside productions will have the opportunity to be distributed through Urban Operas under a creator-focused revenue-share model, allowing qualified filmmakers and content owners to participate financially in the performance of their programming on the platform.

The outside submission initiative is designed to allow Urban Operas to grow beyond Robinson’s internal production slate while creating another piece of infrastructure for independent content creators.

Robinson says viewers can expect a combination of Urban Operas Originals and acquired programming.

“Urban Operas is an original content company first. My production team and I are producing our own slate and creating programming specifically for this audience. At the same time, I know there are filmmakers around the country who have already taken the risk and shot vertical projects and are now asking where those projects can go. If the content is strong and it fits our audience, I want them to know there is going to be another home available to them.”

He continues:

“If a filmmaker has already invested in producing a strong vertical series, I want there to be a pathway for that filmmaker to reach an audience and participate in what their content earns. We know independent filmmaking. We know distribution. We know streaming. Bringing those pieces together is a natural extension of what we’ve already built.”

Urban Operas will begin appearing on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in November 2026, with its official launch scheduled for Winter 2026.

COCO QUEENS, the new play written by New York Times bestselling author LaDarrion Williams and directed by Jessica E. Williams, will make its Los Angeles stage debut at Outside In Theatre. Previews begin October 19, with opening night scheduled for October 25. The production is co-produced by Blackgical Productions and Outside In Theatre.

Set in 1975 Alabama, COCO QUEENS follows four Black women who reunite annually at a neighborhood beauty shop for Coco Queens Weekend—a cherished tradition filled with food, music, laughter and healing. As long-buried secrets come to light, the women must confront the fractures in their relationships and discover whether honesty can bring them back together.

“COCO QUEENS is about the spaces we create for one another when the world becomes too heavy,” says Williams. “It’s a celebration of Black joy, community, memory and the complicated ways we love and care for one another.”

The production marks an expansion into theater producing for Williams through Blackgical Productions. Williams is the bestselling author of Blood at the Root and Bones at the Crossroads and has developed several theatrical works across the country.

The cast includes Julanne Chidi Hill (Little America, Lackawanna Blues), Mildred Marie Langford (Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med), Chanell Bell (Power Book IV, Garden Hands) and Sierra Nicolette Smith (P-Valley, Snowfall).

About LaDarrion Williams

LaDarrion Williams is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, playwright, filmmaker and screenwriter from Helena, Alabama. His published works include Blood at the Root and Bones at the Crossroads. His theatrical projects include COCO QUEENS, Boulevard of Bold Dreams, Hurt People and Black Creek Risin’.

About Jessica E. Williams

Jessica E. Williams is a director and theater artist whose work focuses on dynamic storytelling, community and the development of new works. She directs COCO QUEENS for its Los Angeles stage debut.

Fly Butterfly Productions has announced a life rights deal with Kitty Black Perkins, the trailblazing designer behind the first Black Barbie, for the development of the feature film biopic KITTY.

Keena Ferguson is attached to direct, with Kadesha Powell set to write the screenplay and Jasmine Farr producing. The project is currently in development.

KITTY chronicles the extraordinary life of a woman who changed what generations of little girls saw when they walked down the toy aisle.

The film follows Perkins’ journey from segregated Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she colored paper dolls brown simply to see herself reflected, to Los Angeles, California, where she climbed the corporate ladder at Mattel and ultimately became the first and only Chief Designer in Barbie’s history. During her groundbreaking career, Perkins designed numerous iconic dolls, including the milestone Black Barbie.

“Black Barbie has opened the door for dolls like the Black Historical series and so many more,” said Kitty Black Perkins, creator and designer of the first Black Barbie.

KITTY arrives as the cultural conversation surrounding Black representation and the importance of diverse storytelling continues to gain momentum. Perkins’ story also connects to the broader mainstream fascination with Barbie and the brand’s lasting cultural and historical significance.

“Thirty years later, I grew up in that same neighborhood,” said Jasmine Farr, producer of KITTY and founder of Fly Butterfly Productions. “From Highland to Hollywood is a hardscrabble path that Kitty and I both share. That is why this project is deeply personal to me.”

The film is actively seeking production partners and funding to bring this powerful Spartanburg story to the world stage. The project has received development support through a South Carolina Arts Commission development grant.

NAACP Image Award winner and Emmy nominee Hanelle M. Culpepper (Paradise, Star Trek: Picard) has been tapped to direct and executive produce ‘The Undertaker,’ an ABC police procedural in development from 20th Television and Elevate Entertainment. Written by Gabriel Garza (The Winchesters, The Flash), the project adapts the 2013 hit Swiss series Der Bestatter.

The drama centers on Luke Conrad, a former police detective who returns to his family’s funeral home business, only to find himself obsessively investigating the deaths of the deceased brought to his facility. The original series, created by Hartmut Block, enjoyed a successful seven-season run on Switzerland’s Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen.

Garza executive produces alongside Culpepper. Alex Cole and Joe Wiggins executive produce for Elevate Entertainment, with Michael Wenning also serving as executive producer. One Gate Media holds the rights to the original Swiss format.

Culpepper, whose directing credits span American Crime, Gotham, How to Get Away with Murder, and Star Trek: Discovery, recently earned an Emmy nomination for directing the Season 2 finale of Hulu’s Paradise. Her upcoming slate includes Apple TV+’s sci-fi adaptation Neuromancer, as well as feature film adaptations of Amari and the Night Brothers and 1000 Miles.

–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm

Two months ago, Ryan Clark was on the wrong end of an ESPN layoff sheet. Today he is a Netflix guy. The Pivot, the interview podcast Clark hosts with fellow former NFL players Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor, has signed a multi-year deal with Netflix, and the timing could not be sweeter.

Boardroom broke the news Monday. Video episodes of The Pivot arrive on Netflix starting September 8, with new episodes streaming exclusively on the platform every Tuesday and Friday. The back catalog stays up on YouTube and gets added to Netflix too, so nothing the show built over four years disappears behind a wall.

Clark did not sound like a man who got knocked down. “I’ve gained a new perspective: passion over platform, and people over perception,” he said in a statement, calling this the beginning of a beautiful new chapter and adding that the story is far from finished.

That is the whole arc right there. ESPN cut Clark in July after 11 years as part of network-wide layoffs. He was among the highest-paid NFL analysts on the roster, a guy who had publicly fought for his number and won it. The Netflix agreement is his first major deal since the exit, and it is bigger than the one he lost.

Look at what he actually got. Netflix holds first rights to negotiate on new projects from Pivot25 Productions, the company Clark co-founded with Alicia Zubikowski. Pivot25 will also produce bonus episodes made exclusively for Netflix. That is not a podcast licensing deal. That is a production company getting a seat at the table with the biggest streamer on earth.

The Pivot earned this the hard way. Clark, Crowder and Taylor launched the show in January 2022 with no institutional backing and turned it into must-watch television for anyone who wanted athletes talking to athletes without a network filter. They landed Stephen A. Smith and Charles Barkley early. They landed Nick Saban later. They built past 150 million cumulative YouTube views and are closing in on a million subscribers.

They also survived the part nobody celebrates. The Pivot signed what Clark called a multiyear exclusive partnership with Fanatics in May 2024, then split from it by the end of that year. Since January 2025, the show has run independent, funding itself, booking itself, proving itself. That independence is exactly why Netflix wanted it and exactly why Clark could negotiate for production rights instead of just a distribution check.

Smith, Clark’s former ESPN colleague, posted his congratulations on X in all caps, saying he was proud of the guys and telling Clark he already knew. When the loudest voice in sports media celebrates a man his old network let go, that says something about who won the breakup.

The Pivot joins a Netflix podcast slate that has grown fast. The streamer struck deals with Spotify Studios and The Ringer last October for shows including The Bill Simmons Podcast and The Zach Lowe Show, then added Barstool Sports in December in an eight-figure annual arrangement covering Pardon My Take, Spittin’ Chiclets and The Ryen Russillo Show, plus a separate deal with iHeartMedia.

Netflix is still figuring the format out. Puck’s Matthew Belloni reported in June that no video podcast has cracked Nielsen’s weekly top 10 and that internal engagement numbers for the category are low. Big Cat of Pardon My Take put it plainly back in April, saying his show was the tip of the spear and admitting that was a little scary.

Here is the bet, and it is a good one. Netflix does not need The Pivot to win week one. It needs shows people already choose to watch, and The Pivot is one of maybe five sports podcasts with a genuine cultural footprint. Three Black former players built a platform on candor and relationships, kept ownership of it through a corporate split, and now have Netflix money and Netflix reach without giving up the thing that made it work.

- REAVES // @fisher.reaves

Grammy-winning rapper and actor André 3000 is returning to the Scooby-Doo universe, securing a recurring role in Netflix’s upcoming live-action series ‘Scooby-Doo: Origins.’ The OutKast musician previously co-wrote and performed “Land of a Million Drums” for the soundtrack of the 2002 live-action Scooby-Doo feature film alongside Big Boi, Killer Mike, and Sleepy Brown.

Described as a modern reimagining of the classic mystery-solving gang, the series follows old friends Shaggy and Daphne during their final summer at camp. When they get swept up in a haunting mystery involving a stray Great Dane puppy who may have witnessed a supernatural murder, they team up with practical townie Velma and eccentric newcomer Fred to uncover a dark case that threatens to expose all of their secrets.

He joins previously announced leads Mckenna Grace (Daphne Blake), Tanner Hagen (Shaggy Rogers), Abby Ryder Fortson (Velma Dinkley), Maxwell Jenkins (Fred Jones), and Scooby-Doo. The ensemble also includes Peter Macon, Cathy Moriarty, Paul Walter Hauser, Rusty Schwimmer, Jona Xiao, Dani Deetté, Elysée Sanvillé, Alex Isles, Avery Kristen Pohl, Pamela Mitchell, Ross Kimball, Sara Gilbert, Wynn Everett, Sauriyan Sapkota, and Bruce McGill.

Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg serve as showrunners, writers, and executive producers. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman executive produce via Berlanti Productions under its overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers also include André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Adrienne Erickson via Midnight Radio, with Toby Haynes executive producing and directing episode 101. Warner Bros. Television serves as the studio.

‘Scooby-Doo: Origins’ is currently filming in Atlanta.

–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm

Filmmaker and civil engineer Destiny Macon, known online as @hushgirl_des, is bringing a new psychological horror thriller to the screen with Burn House, the debut feature film from her production company, Hush Girl Productions. Currently in production, the ambitious independent film blends psychological suspense, supernatural horror and period storytelling against the haunting backdrop of the late 1800s.

Burn House follows a canceled talk show host who encounters a supernatural presence at her family’s lake house, forcing her to confront the ghosts of her past—or risk burning alive inside.

For Macon, the journey to making her first feature film began years earlier. In 2023, she experienced a major career milestone when her short film Talk Black streamed on HBO Max after becoming a finalist in the American Black Film Festival’s HBO Short Film Showcase. Macon credits the support of the South Carolina Film Commission’s Indie Grants program as an important part of making that opportunity possible.

Two years later, in November 2025, Macon took an even bigger leap of faith by self-financing the first act of Burn House through Hush Girl Productions.

Production took place in Hollywood, South Carolina, where the area’s close proximity to Charleston created opportunities for students and alumni from Trident Technical College to join the production. Additional members of the crew included filmmakers from South Carolina’s Upstate region, reinforcing Macon’s commitment to building opportunities for local creatives.

One of the production’s most memorable experiences came from filming inside a cabin that was actually built during the period represented in the film.

“There was something about putting a camera inside a space that had existed for more than a century and using it to tell a story about a woman confronting the ghosts of her past that felt ethereal,” Macon said.

Now, with the first act completed and footage already captured, Hush Girl Productions has launched a Seed&Spark crowdfunding campaign to raise the next $20,000 needed to complete principal photography on Burn House this fall.

Support the Burn House Seed&Spark Campaign

Self-financing the first act taught Macon firsthand that producing an independent feature is an enormous undertaking, but she believes the challenges are worth it when the work begins to come alive on screen. With a cast, crew, locations and completed footage already in place, the team is now calling on the community to help bring the next chapter of Burn House to life.

For Macon, Burn House represents more than a feature film. The project reflects the growing strength of independent filmmaking in South Carolina, the importance of Black representation both in front of and behind the camera, and the need to create more opportunities for women in creative and corporate spaces.

Through Hush Girl Productions, Macon hopes to continue building a pipeline for South Carolina filmmakers while creating opportunities for local crew members and emerging talent. Her work also serves as a reminder that filmmakers do not necessarily have to relocate to Los Angeles or New York to create cinematic, ambitious stories.

Sometimes, you can make Hollywood in Hollywood, South Carolina.

Cast of Burn House

Lirelle Gardere as Zee
Dorian Herring as Doug
Whitney Morrow as Phoenix
Erwin James Jacob as Kiloh
Mia Alexis Reese as Marabelle
Zach Humphrey as Terran
Kinsleigh Boyd as Little Zee
Robin Hailey as Vanessa

And introducing:

Natacha Ellie as Savita

Burn House is currently in production.

Follow filmmaker Destiny Macon at @hushgirl_des and follow the film at @burnhouse_movie for production updates, behind-the-scenes content and information about the film’s crowdfunding campaign.

About Destiny Macon

Destiny Macon is a filmmaker and civil engineer based in Greenville, South Carolina. She is the founder of Hush Girl Productions and is committed to telling compelling stories while creating opportunities for filmmakers and creatives throughout South Carolina. In 2023, her short film Talk Black became a finalist in the American Black Film Festival’s HBO Short Film Showcase and later streamed on HBO Max. Burn House marks her first feature film.

About Burn House

Burn House is a psychological horror thriller and partially period-set feature film from Hush Girl Productions. Set against the backdrop of the late 1800s, the story follows a canceled talk show host who encounters a supernatural presence at her family’s lake house and must confront her past before it consumes her.

Filmmaker Kinnedy “ScribeCash” Storay has officially begun production on Killer Counselor, a new four-episode scripted series starring Brely Evans, with Tabitha Brown joining the cast as Elaine and serving as a producer.

The project marks another addition to Storay’s growing 2026 slate, with Storay serving as director, executive producer and editor, in addition to originating the story. Brely Evans, who stars as therapist Vanessa Harper, also serves as an executive producer alongside Storay. The screenplay is written by Tamala Lynn, based on Storay’s original story.

In Killer Counselor, Brely Evans stars as Vanessa Harper, a respected therapist dedicated to helping women navigate abusive and toxic relationships. But behind the safety of her therapy office, Vanessa has a dangerous secret: when counseling isn’t enough, she takes justice into her own hands—permanently. As a string of mysterious deaths begins drawing the attention of law enforcement, Vanessa must protect her clients, her mission, and the double life she’s worked carefully to conceal.

Tabitha Brown portrays Dr. Elaine Whitmore, Vanessa’s former mentor, who entrusts Vanessa with her clients as she steps away from her longtime therapy practice. Before leaving, Elaine gives her protégé a warning about the dangers of carrying other people’s pain—a warning that takes on greater meaning as Vanessa’s two worlds collide.

Joining Evans and Brown among the top-billed cast are Lawrence Robinson as Daniel and Drea Kelly as Rachel.

The ensemble cast also includes Taylor Barr, Jamaal Lewis, Jontille Gerard, Yohance Myles, Quin Walters, Bobby Gene, Joe Goode, and December Aboh.

The four-episode first installment of Killer Counselor brings together psychological thriller, crime and relationship drama through a morally complicated central character who has appointed herself judge and executioner for men she believes have escaped accountability.

Killer Counselor continues Storay’s ambitious 2026 film and television slate and further establishes the multi-hyphenate filmmaker behind the camera as director, storyteller, executive producer and editor.

Production is currently underway in Los Angeles.

HBO has set a September 18 premiere date for ‘Jay-Z in 8,’ an eight-episode docuseries featuring the rap icon in conversation with music producer and director Rick Rubin. The series kicks off with two episodes at 8 p.m. ET, followed by two new episodes dropping every Friday through its October 9 finale.

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s seminal debut album Reasonable Doubt, the series follows the long-time friends and collaborators as they sit down for an intimate, song-by-song retrospective. Across eight parts, the pair unpack the influences, creation, and impact behind the hits throughout his discography, including classics like “99 Problems,” “Brooklyn’s Finest,” and “4:44.”

Rubin directs the series for Tetragrammaton and executive produces alongside Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Daniel Kaluuya. Leila Mattimore and David Rohde serve as producers, with Harlin Lawal and Will Mavronicolas co-producing and Bradford Young serving as director of photography. Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez executive produce for HBO.

–Dominique Young // @heyyydommm