Exclusive: Christine Horn and Sule Rimi have been tapped to star in Kagiso Lediga’s newly titled Amazon Freevee series Classified (fka Untitled Kagiso Lediga), a coming-of-age drama from Skybound Galactic, a joint venture between Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, and Johannesburg-based producer Diprente. Horn and Rimi join previously announced lead Imani Pullum. The series will premiere in the U.S. on Amazon Freevee.
Created by Lediga, the eight-episode series follows 15-year-old Ella Gardner (Pullum), a student at a public school in Oakland, California. Arrested at a protest and facing serious jail time, Ella avoids incarceration, but as part of the deal, Ella must leave her home in California and spend the remainder of her secondary education with her family in Johannesburg. Ella’s world is turned upside down as she navigates a very different reality than the one she has known.
Created by Lediga, the eight-episode series follows 15-year-old Ella Gardner (Pullum), a student at a public school in Oakland, California. Arrested at a protest and facing serious jail time, Ella avoids incarceration, but as part of the deal, Ella must leave her home in California and spend the remainder of her secondary education with her family in Johannesburg. Ella’s world is turned upside down as she navigates a very different reality than the one she has known.
- 3/1/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Rising young actor Imani Pullum has been cast as the lead in Amazon Freevee’s coming-of-age drama Untitled Kagiso Lediga Project. The eight-episode series hails from Queen Sono creator Lediga, Skybound Galactic, a joint venture between Skybound Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, and Johannesburg-based producer Diprente.
Pullum will play the lead role of Ella Gardner in the eight-episode series which will premiere in the U.S. on Amazon Freevee.
Created by Lediga, the coming-of-age drama follows 15-year-old Ella, a student at a public school in Oakland, California. Gifted with a flowing tongue, Ella is a weaver of yarns. A skateboarder with a skillful street style, she is a firebrand—defiant and rebellious in nature. Arrested at a protest and facing serious jail time, Ella avoids incarceration thanks to her stepmother, Dianne, who has connections in high places. As part of the deal, Ella must...
Pullum will play the lead role of Ella Gardner in the eight-episode series which will premiere in the U.S. on Amazon Freevee.
Created by Lediga, the coming-of-age drama follows 15-year-old Ella, a student at a public school in Oakland, California. Gifted with a flowing tongue, Ella is a weaver of yarns. A skateboarder with a skillful street style, she is a firebrand—defiant and rebellious in nature. Arrested at a protest and facing serious jail time, Ella avoids incarceration thanks to her stepmother, Dianne, who has connections in high places. As part of the deal, Ella must...
- 11/10/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Amazon Freevee has given a series greenlight to a coming-of-age drama from Queen Sono creator Kagiso Lediga and writer Camilo Saloojee, Skybound Galactic, a part of Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment, Johannesburg-based producer Diprente and Sony Pictures Television.
Created by Lediga and Saloojee, the eight-episode Untitled Kagiso Lediga series follows Ella Gardner as her life is turned upside down when she is uprooted from her native Oakland, California to Johannesburg, South Africa to live with her estranged father and his new family. Immersed in a complex world and culture that she knows little about, Ella will discover her true path on her quest to return home.
The series is written by Lediga, who also directs, Saloojee, Meja Shoba, Christopher Steenkamp, and Nomawonga Khumalo. Diprente’s Lediga and Tamsin Andersson executive produce with Skybound’s, Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Rick Jacobs, Sean Furst and Bryan Furst. The series is produced by Skybound Galactic and Diprente.
Created by Lediga and Saloojee, the eight-episode Untitled Kagiso Lediga series follows Ella Gardner as her life is turned upside down when she is uprooted from her native Oakland, California to Johannesburg, South Africa to live with her estranged father and his new family. Immersed in a complex world and culture that she knows little about, Ella will discover her true path on her quest to return home.
The series is written by Lediga, who also directs, Saloojee, Meja Shoba, Christopher Steenkamp, and Nomawonga Khumalo. Diprente’s Lediga and Tamsin Andersson executive produce with Skybound’s, Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Rick Jacobs, Sean Furst and Bryan Furst. The series is produced by Skybound Galactic and Diprente.
- 11/2/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Impact X Capital, a Black entrepreneur owned venture capital firm seeking to invest £100 million ($137 million) for underrepresented entrepreneurs, is launching Impact X Studios to fund, develop and package international content with an focus on diversity and inclusion.
A creative capital vehicle for underrepresented talent, Impact X Studios is being launched by Erica Motley, a well-connected TV industry veteran who is creative partner at Impact X, and Eric Collins, the CEO of Impact X who is also a tech entrepreneur and investor.
“Impact X was launched for founders from underrepresented communities – mainly Black and female entrepreneurs – and now we’re aiming to do the same for the creative content industry in Europe, Africa and the Carribeans,” said Motley, who pointed out that the recent success of “Bridgerton” and “Lupin,” two shows with Black protagonists, are game-changers as they show that there is a “massive audience for distinctive storytelling with multicultural characters.
A creative capital vehicle for underrepresented talent, Impact X Studios is being launched by Erica Motley, a well-connected TV industry veteran who is creative partner at Impact X, and Eric Collins, the CEO of Impact X who is also a tech entrepreneur and investor.
“Impact X was launched for founders from underrepresented communities – mainly Black and female entrepreneurs – and now we’re aiming to do the same for the creative content industry in Europe, Africa and the Carribeans,” said Motley, who pointed out that the recent success of “Bridgerton” and “Lupin,” two shows with Black protagonists, are game-changers as they show that there is a “massive audience for distinctive storytelling with multicultural characters.
- 4/9/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The 24th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, which takes place on September 23-27, has unveiled their full virtual lineup of over 100 official selections panels and conversations which will be available online. The fest has also added a spotlight conversation around Amazon Studios docu All In: The Fight for Democracy, its new Creativity Uncovered series, Overstand’s virtual pitch event, their #ShareTheMic Instagram takeover as well as additional guests.
On September 23, there will be a conversation with All In: The Fight for Democracy directors Lisa Cortés and Liz Garbus along with activist DeRay McKesson and moderator Keith Boykin. The day prior marks National Voter Registration Day and to align with this, All In: The Fight for Democracy will be available on Urbanworld’s Vimeo Channel for the full day with an introduction by Fair Fight Action’s Stacey Abrams, along with directors and producers Garbus and Cortés.
The full agenda...
On September 23, there will be a conversation with All In: The Fight for Democracy directors Lisa Cortés and Liz Garbus along with activist DeRay McKesson and moderator Keith Boykin. The day prior marks National Voter Registration Day and to align with this, All In: The Fight for Democracy will be available on Urbanworld’s Vimeo Channel for the full day with an introduction by Fair Fight Action’s Stacey Abrams, along with directors and producers Garbus and Cortés.
The full agenda...
- 9/18/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has renewed its first African original Queen Sono for a second season.
Starring Quantico‘s Pearl Thusi, it centers on a highly trained spy who takes on dangerous missions, while also facing challenges in her personal life. The second season will see her search for the truth as her newfound need for revenge takes her on a mission across Africa.
Queen Sono was created by director Kagiso Lediga, who worked with Thusi on dark romantic comedy Catching Feelings, and executive producer Tamsin Andersson, who produced Catching Feelings. Johannesburg-based Diprente Films made the show, with production on Season 2 expected to begin later this year.
Dorothy Ghettuba, who leads African originals at Netflix, said: “The first season of Queen Sono marked the beginning of our journey to introduce the world to exciting stories that are made in Africa. It was an unprecedented representation of a strong female black lead in African television.
Starring Quantico‘s Pearl Thusi, it centers on a highly trained spy who takes on dangerous missions, while also facing challenges in her personal life. The second season will see her search for the truth as her newfound need for revenge takes her on a mission across Africa.
Queen Sono was created by director Kagiso Lediga, who worked with Thusi on dark romantic comedy Catching Feelings, and executive producer Tamsin Andersson, who produced Catching Feelings. Johannesburg-based Diprente Films made the show, with production on Season 2 expected to begin later this year.
Dorothy Ghettuba, who leads African originals at Netflix, said: “The first season of Queen Sono marked the beginning of our journey to introduce the world to exciting stories that are made in Africa. It was an unprecedented representation of a strong female black lead in African television.
- 4/28/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has released a trailer for its anticipated first African original series, titled “Queen Sono.” The series represents the streaming giant’s ongoing push into the African continent — a still relatively untapped source of talent and content.
“Queen Sono” is a South African crime drama created by actor and director Kagiso Lediga, starring Pearl Thusi (“Quantico”) as a Jason Bourne-like operative who tackles dangerous missions while contending with personal challenges.
Thusi is joined in front of the camera by Vuyo Dabula, Sechaba Morojele, Chi Mhende, Loyiso Madinga, Rob Van Vuuren, Kate Liquorish, Khathu Ramabulana, Enhle Maphumulo, Abigail Kubeka, Connie Chiume, Otto Nobela and James Ngcobo. The series was ordered for a six-episode first season by Netflix in December 2018, with Lediga as executive producer alongside Tamsin Andersson. Lediga and Tebogo Malope directed all six episodes.
The first season is set to be released on Netflix in its entirety on February 28.
In...
“Queen Sono” is a South African crime drama created by actor and director Kagiso Lediga, starring Pearl Thusi (“Quantico”) as a Jason Bourne-like operative who tackles dangerous missions while contending with personal challenges.
Thusi is joined in front of the camera by Vuyo Dabula, Sechaba Morojele, Chi Mhende, Loyiso Madinga, Rob Van Vuuren, Kate Liquorish, Khathu Ramabulana, Enhle Maphumulo, Abigail Kubeka, Connie Chiume, Otto Nobela and James Ngcobo. The series was ordered for a six-episode first season by Netflix in December 2018, with Lediga as executive producer alongside Tamsin Andersson. Lediga and Tebogo Malope directed all six episodes.
The first season is set to be released on Netflix in its entirety on February 28.
In...
- 1/30/2020
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Stranger Things production company 21 Laps on board as executive producer.
Jonathan Entwistle, British director of BAFTA-nominated Netflix series The End Of The Fucking World, is to co-create I Am Not Okay With This, another series for the streaming giant based on the work of End Of… graphic novelist Charles Forsman.
Netflix has given an eight-episode order to I Am Not Okay With This, and Stranger Things production company 21 Laps serves as executive producer.
Based on Forsman’s 2017 comic book, the new series is a coming-of-age story about a teenage girl navigating the trials and tribulations of high school,...
Jonathan Entwistle, British director of BAFTA-nominated Netflix series The End Of The Fucking World, is to co-create I Am Not Okay With This, another series for the streaming giant based on the work of End Of… graphic novelist Charles Forsman.
Netflix has given an eight-episode order to I Am Not Okay With This, and Stranger Things production company 21 Laps serves as executive producer.
Based on Forsman’s 2017 comic book, the new series is a coming-of-age story about a teenage girl navigating the trials and tribulations of high school,...
- 12/12/2018
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Quantico star Pearl Thusi is to star in Queen Sono – Netflix’s first African original series.
Thusi, who starred as series regular Dayana Mampasi in the ABC drama, is set to play a highly trained spy in a South African agency in the series.
Created by director Kagiso Lediga, who worked with Thusi in dark romantic comedy Catching Feelings, and exec producer Tamsin Andersson, who produced Catching Feelings and Lediga’s coming-of-age adventure Wizard, the series will see Thusi’s character take on dangerous missions, while also facing challenges in her personal life.
The show will launch around the world on the Svod service and will start production in 2019.
It is expected to be one of a number of African originations for Netflix as the digital platform eyes international growth in new markets.
“It’s going to change the game for every artist on this continent,” said Thusi. “I cannot wait for every young woman,...
Thusi, who starred as series regular Dayana Mampasi in the ABC drama, is set to play a highly trained spy in a South African agency in the series.
Created by director Kagiso Lediga, who worked with Thusi in dark romantic comedy Catching Feelings, and exec producer Tamsin Andersson, who produced Catching Feelings and Lediga’s coming-of-age adventure Wizard, the series will see Thusi’s character take on dangerous missions, while also facing challenges in her personal life.
The show will launch around the world on the Svod service and will start production in 2019.
It is expected to be one of a number of African originations for Netflix as the digital platform eyes international growth in new markets.
“It’s going to change the game for every artist on this continent,” said Thusi. “I cannot wait for every young woman,...
- 12/10/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has ordered its first African original series, “Queen Sono,” a drama about a secret agent who fights crime while dealing with crises in her personal life. The series will launch globally in 2019.
“Queen Sono” stars veteran South African actress Pearl Thusi, who tweeted in an emotional video Monday that she “cannot wait for…every woman on this continent, and actually on this planet, to meet Queen Sono.” Of the deal with Netflix, she added: “It’s going to change the game for every artist on this continent.”
The announcement of the show comes barely a week after Erik Barmack, Netflix’s vice president of international originals, told a gathering in London that the company would begin commissioning original series in Africa starting in 2019.
Speaking about “Queen Sono” with South Africa’s Independent Online, Barmack said: “Taking talent like this and telling stories to the rest of the world puts...
“Queen Sono” stars veteran South African actress Pearl Thusi, who tweeted in an emotional video Monday that she “cannot wait for…every woman on this continent, and actually on this planet, to meet Queen Sono.” Of the deal with Netflix, she added: “It’s going to change the game for every artist on this continent.”
The announcement of the show comes barely a week after Erik Barmack, Netflix’s vice president of international originals, told a gathering in London that the company would begin commissioning original series in Africa starting in 2019.
Speaking about “Queen Sono” with South Africa’s Independent Online, Barmack said: “Taking talent like this and telling stories to the rest of the world puts...
- 12/10/2018
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
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