Coming Soon: Push, Based on the Novel By Sapphire

(Clockwise from top: Actresses, Gabourey "Gabby" Sidbe, Sherri Shepherd, Paula Patton and Mo'Nique)

The drama behind Push: Based on The Novel by Sapphire is almost as intense as the story that scored the film a record three 2009 Sundance Awards (a feat matched only by 2006's Mexican-American drama, Quinceanera this decade). Film giants, Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company are currently engaged in a legal battle over the right to push Push; both arguing that they have distribution agreements for the film. The film, which has not aired so much as a single trailer, has industry heavyweights vying for a chance to be a part of it.

Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry recently announced plans to promote the film, with Winfery proclaiming, "I've never seen anything like it. The moment I saw 'Push,' I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to encourage other people to see this movie. This film is so raw and powerful--it split me open."

The film, an adaptation of author Sapphire's best-selling novel, is the story of Clareece "Precious" Jones, an overweight, illiterate African-American teen from Harlem who discovers an alternate path in life after she begins attending a new school.

Newcomer, Gabourey "Gabby" Sidbe stars with an all-star cast including Mo'Nique (in a Sundance-award winning performance), Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd and Lenny Kravitz.

The film was directed by producing dynamo, Lee Daniels (of Monsters'
Ball and Shadowboxer) and is promising to be one of the most highly anticipated films of the year.

Coming Soon: A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy

The title alone simmers.

We saw an early sneak preview of this Sundance indie burner months ago and subsequently began to question if we'd ever seen black this sexy onscreen before.

The film, a series of vignettes, explores modern-day African American relationships with a gentle homage to the 1970s. Director, Dennis Dortch, doesn't stray far from the Blaxpoitation-loving roots he so eloquently displayed in his short film debut, 1999's Honey.

With opening theatrical releases set for Los Angeles this week and screenings at the New York African Diaspora Film Festival, you could, theoretically, make any day this weekend A Good Day to be Black & Sexy.

Coming Soon: 'Miracles' and 'Secrets'

(l to r: Director, Spike Lee, and hotties: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy and Laz Alonso)

The cast of Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna looks more appealing than a freshly opened box of See's Chocolates... and we've got a serious sweet tooth! The film, which chronicles the African American experience during World War II, is already garnering tons of critical praise and early buzz...

And speaking of 'buzz'... the Toronto International Film Festival is the launching pad for the groundbreaking war film, as well as Gina Prince Bythewood's The Secret Life of Bees.

(l to r: Jennifer Hudson, Sophi Okenodo, Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Tristan Wilds, Gina Prince Bythewood and Nathan Parker)



Call us presumptuos but we detect the faint aroma of Academy Award consideration in the air....

Besides the running theme of Academy Award possibility, both films seem to have something else in common: Is it just us or does young Hollywood-sensation Tristan Wilds (of Secret Life of Bees), look incredibly like Michael Ealy (of Miracle of St. Anna). This is definitely an improptu Separated at Birth.

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In other news...

Shout out to Serena Williams for her third U.S. Open Championship!

Coming Soon: Bury Me Standing

Not only are we ecstatic that two of our favorite thespians (Kerry Washington and Mos Def) are reportedly in production on the flick, Bury Me Standing, we're equally thrilled that this indie vehicle is being driven by up-and-coming writer/director, Caran Hartsfield and super-producer in the making, Effie T. Brown.



The early synopsis of Bury Me Standing is a dramedy of a family coping with the death of a young relative. (That's all we've got, folks.)

Our hats are off to the next generation of black women filmmakers getting gems like this story told.

Be on the lookout for our profile of 10 up and coming African American Female Filmmakers in the weeks to come. If you know of deserving candidates email us @ thecocoalounge@yahoo.com.

Coming Soon: No Woman No Cry

The Weinstein Co. will produce and distribute a big-screen version of [Rita Marley's] 2004 autobiography "No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley," a chronicle of the musician's childhood and their tumultuous 15-year marriage through his death from cancer in 1981.

The untitled project from producer Rudy Langlais ("The Hurricane") is tentatively set to begin filming early next year with a projected late 2009 release date. Langlais said the film will be an "epic romance," including the Marleys' life and the assassination attempt on the couple.

-- Billboard

Rita's first choice to portray her onscreen? Lauryn Hill. Rita is reportedly vocal about Lauryn starring in the role, because "She sees my life as her life." Well, Lauryn's certainly starring in her own real-life role as the mother of a Marley clan, and wouldn't have far to go for research, but as unpredictable as she's been over the years, we're not sure this casting dream will make it past Rita's lips.

But for the love of Bob Marley we may have to Wait in Vain for the outcome.

Coming Soon: Keke Palmer makes a 'Comeback'

Fresh Facer, Akeelah and The Bee star, Keke Palmer, is currently filming Comeback, a true story about a teen female quarterback (Jasmine Plummer) who leads her team to the National Pop Warner Football Tournament. Ice Cube's Cube Vision is producing and Cube will co-star as Palmer's uncle and coach, a former high school football star.


Also onboard as Keke's mother is Tasha Smith, who first caught our eye as an abusive female pimp in the Meagan Good-produced indie, Miles From Home. And after stealing practically every scene she appeared in Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married, we've gone from casual observers to serious fans of Tasha's work.


Ice Cube's Cube Vision continues to surprise with its diverse producing choices: From the Barbershop franchise to the Are We There Yet films and an upcoming remake of Welcome Back, Kotter, Cube refuses to pidgeonholed himself. Not bad from a Boy N The Hood! O'shea Jackson is living proof that Hip Hop can (and will) mature gracefully.

Comeback is currently shooting in Shrevesport, Lousiana and is tentatively scheduled to be released later this year.

Coming Soon: The Secret Life of Bees

Now this bit of production news is just the bees knees: How excited are we that Love & Basketball director, Gina Prince-Bythewood, is attached to not only direct but has adapted Sue Monk Kidd's best-selling novel, "The Secret Life of Bees" for the big screen?

Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson and Sophie Okonedo will star and Dakota Fanning and Alicia Keys are in final negotiations.

"Bees," a drama set in the Southern U.S. in the 1960s, centers on teenager Lily Owens (Fanning) and her friend Rosaleen (Hudson) who flee their hometown to escape their harsh upbringing and seek to uncover the mysteries of Lily's late mother. Along the way, they encounter three beekeeping sisters (Latifah, Okonedo, Keys) who take the pair in to their South Carolina home. --Reuters

For the past several years, Black female directors have been noticeably MIA from the big screen. But with Angela Robinson (Herbie, D.E.B.S) continuing to helm projects and Kasi Lemmon's recent return with the Petey Greene story, Talk to Me, thankfully, things are starting to look up again!

Coming Soon: The 'Bolden' The Beautiful

Two upcoming period pieces have us all eyes and ears: one's an indie biopic, the other is an early award-season contender filled with entertainment heavyweights.



Fantastic Four: Four Guys We love alum, Anthony Mackie, is known for generating heat around these parts, but Bolden!, his latest project, is full of its own sparks.

Audiences have been patiently waiting for Mackie to get his Denzel on; to land a role that transforms an actor from 'good' to 'critically-acclaimed.' That role, we hear, comes in the portrayal of Buddy Bolden, a giant in rag-time music, and early father of jazz.



The film also features three notable up and coming actresses: The Bolden women. Yaani King, Karimah Westbrook and Milauna Jemai, all young dramatic actresses, who are gaining their stripes through strong television appearances on popular shows like CSI, Without a Trace and Law & Order.



And what can we say about The Great Debaters that hasn't already been uttered? With names like Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey to headline the credits, this film is destined for a little award-season attention. And young Jurnee Smollett, an acting powerhouse since Eve's Bayou, is already being lauded for Supporting
Actress consideration by MGM.

We here at the Lounge can't wait to feast our eyes on these when they finally grace the silver screen.

Lieutenant Uhura: Remixed.

Since her inception in the late 1960s, Star Trek's Lt. Uhura has remained a pop-culture icon. The beehive-rocking, smart, Chief Communications Officer of the USS Enterprise, introduced international television audiences to a kind of black woman it had never seen before: a sista literally light-years ahead. Becoming one of the first African American characters to join a culturally diverse television cast, actress Nichelle Nichols helped to change archaic notions that once crippled the sci-fi genre, and proved once and for all that people of color would, indeed, have a place in the celluloid future.

Though, Nichols made Uhura's sci-fi trekking look easy, she battled racial inequalities both in front of and behind the scenes and had once contemplated leaving the show in its first season, until Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. talked her into staying. The legendary leader told her how important it was for the world to see her in such a groundbreaking role--and who can really argue with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr? Nichelle Nichols continued through the shows' three seasons, making television history along the way. King's words would ring true when, years later, Mae Jamison, the first black female astronaut, cited seeing Uhura on television as an inspiration for joining NASA.

Now, forty years later, the iconic role of Lt. Uhura will have a new face: Zoe Saldana's. The new Star Trek film will begin shooting this winter and is expected to hit theaters Christmas 2008.

Zoe has been given some pretty big shoes to fill, but we're sure she'll wear them well. Beam her on up, Scotty!

Coming Soon: Production News from a Few of Our Favorite Actresses

From The Cocoa Lounge


(Clockwise: Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union, Paula Patton, Kimberly Elise, Zoe Saldana, Naomie Harris, Thandie Newton (center)).


Cocoa Loungers are always wondering what's next from their favorite actresses. Here's a look at films that have been announced or already in production with Black Hollywood's A-List Scene-Stealers:


Kerry Washington joins Mos Def and Alfre Woodard in Bury Me Standing.

Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut are together again for Perfect Christmas. And the busy actress is also in production on sci-fi comedy, Starship Dave, with Eddie Murphy.

Paula Patton co-stars with heavyweights Kevin Costner and Kelsey Grammer in comedy, Swing Vote.

Kimberly Elise re-teams with Denzel Washington for Oprah Winfrey-produced and Suzan-Lori Parks-penned, The Great Debaters.

Zoe Saldana gets bionic in the film version of adventure-hit, Avatar.

Pirate of the Caribbean's,
Naomie Harris, joins Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker in The Night Watchman.

And Thandie Newton teams with Cocoa Lounge favorite, Idris Elba, and Gerard Butler for the Dramedy, RocknRolla.

Coming Soon: Films in Production From ATL to Africa

From The Cocoa Lounge

This summer, Black Star Power is in full effect. Some of our favorite thespians are on location this month shooting films that will have to be seen to be believed:

Angela Bassett to 'Meet The Browns'


Legendary Actress, Angela Bassett has teamed up with Tyler Perry for Browns.

There's no doubt about it: Angela Bassett is black America's most beloved and highly respected actress. The black Meryl Streep; the female Denzel, Angela Bassett's talents go without saying.

We hissed when the Academy failed to recognize her for what she was: The Best Actress of 1994 for her reincarnation of Tina Turner in What's Love Got To Do With It. And it saddens us that this great actress' shortage of roles and acclaim, have more to do with Hollywood's ambivalance towards black womanhood than her lack of talent.

So when the rumor began that Angela Bassett will star in the film-adaptation of Tyler Perry's farce Meet The Browns, we couldn't stop ourselves from cringing. Though Tyler Perry has established a brand of comedy that has captured the attention-spans of millions the world-over, we find it hard to imagine the Yale-trained actress exchanging sassy banter with the brassy Madea and her clan.

Perhaps Bassett is just what Tyler Perry needs to grow as a multi-faceted filmmaker, and the role that Bassett could transform into another memorable vehicle. Only time will tell.

Meet the Browns began production last month in Atlanta, GA. Jennifer Hudson is also rumored to be attached.

Botswana opens its doors to Jilly from Philly


Idris Elba, Jill Scott, and Anika Noni Rose will make history in Africa this month.

Jill Scott is a very busy lady these days. The singer-turned actress recently made Cocoa Lounge news, and is now leading the cast of a landmark film set in Africa. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, scheduled to begin filming Monday, is the first major production to shoot entirely in Botswana. And with Hollywood heavyweights The Weinstein Co. producing (with additional funding from The Republic of Botswana) and Anthony Minghella (The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley) in the directing chair, it seems that Miss Scott is in very good hands. This film has the word "nomination" written all over it.

Agency, based on Alexander McCall Smith's best-selling book series, follows the exploits of Precious Ramotswe (Jill Soctt), the series' heroine and proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana. Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls) will play Precious' quirky secretary Mma Makutsi, and Lucian Msamati will play Precious' suitor JLB Matekoni.

The cast also includes David Oyelowo (The Last King of Scotland), Idris Elba (28 Weeks Later), Colin Salmon (Die Another Day) and Tony Award winners Winston Ntshona and John Kani.

Disney Animation Crowns First Black Princess

From The Cocoa Lounge


Move over Snow White: A Cocoa Lounge illustration inspired by Disney's The Frog Princess.

It has been years in the making (and with a release date of 2009 it still is), but Disney has finally announced plans to feature a black heroine as its title character in the upcoming Frog Princess.

According to Reuters:

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The film, scheduled for release in 2009 by Disney Feature Animation, is the first hand-drawn film the company has committed to since pledging last month to return to the traditional animation form that made it a worldwide brand.

"The Frog Princess," a musical scored by composer Randy Newman, is "an American fairy tale" starring a girl named Maddy who lives in the French Quarter in New Orleans, said John Lasseter, chief creative director for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.
Maddy joins eight other Disney princess characters that have generated $3 billion in global retail sales since 1999. Disney Princesses is the fastest growing brand for the company's Consumer Products division.

Disney introduced its first non-white animated heroine in its 1992 film, "Aladdin" with the Middle Eastern character Jasmine, and followed it three years later with the Native American princess "Pocahontas."

The creation of the Chinese heroine from "Mulan" came in 1998. Other Disney princesses include the main characters from the films "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Beauty and the Beast," and "The Little Mermaid."

The Consumer Products division aggregated the eight characters in 1999 under the banner "Disney Princesses" and has rolled out toys, books, clothing, furniture and other merchandise aimed at girls ages 3 to 8.

Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger said the company wanted to show its support for New Orleans, only partially rebuilt 18 months after it was flooded by Hurricane Katrina, by holding its annual meeting and setting its newest animated film here.

"We thought it would be a great signal to send that New Orleans is important, that we believe in New Orleans, and in a way it was our means of not only expressing some appreciation but of giving back," Iger told Reuters in an interview. "This is a town we have derived great stories from."

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It will be interesting to see what happens with this project in the coming months:

Alicia Keys is said to be in talks for the role, but Raven Symone seems like the more obvious choice for Disney. Time will tell.

A Raisin in The Sun to hit the Small Screen

From Chicago, to Rent and most recently, Dreamgirls, Hollywood is churning out the Broadway hits left and right and nobody's more excited than the Cocoa Lounge that A Raisin in the Sun is coming soon to a television near you--and all of the original Broadway cast members are onboard!

The Lorraine Hansberry play returned to Broadway in 2004 and starred Phylicia Rashad, Audra MacDonald, Sanaa Lathan and Sean 'P Diddy' Combs as the Youngers, a family of African Americans who face obstacles trying to move into their dream home in an all-white neighborhood.



For their performances, Phylicia, Audra and Sanaa all garnered Tony Award Nominations, with both Phyilica and Audra walking away with Broadway's highest honors. Phylicia Rashad made history that night, becoming the first African-American ever to be awarded Leading Actress in a Play.


The 3 hour television movie is currently shooting in Canada and John Stamos recently joined the all-star cast. Paris Qualles penned the screenplay and Kenny Leon will direct. This isn't the first time A Raisin in the Sun has been adapted for film, it was originally made for the big screen in 1961 and helped to solidify Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee as serious, furious actors.

We know there's nothing like watching a live show in New York but finally, those of us who don't reside in the Big Apple can get a taste of Broadway without even leaving our own couch. Ain't it grand?

Raven Symone takes on 'Adventures'

Though the Disney television series That's So Raven has run its course, the Walt Disney company isn't finished with its hitmaker, Raven Symone yet. Raven has signed an acting and producing deal with Disney and is now attached to star in a remake of the 80s classic "Adventures in Babysitting." You guys remember this one, right? The 1987 film, which starred Elisabeth Shue, follows the misadventures of a high school teen stuck babysitting a trio of trouble-makers for one night. We're sure Raven could spice this one up with that crazy comedic timing of hers.

The deal follows a successful nearly five year partnership between Raven and Disney. That's So Raven has been one of the Disney Channel's highest-rated shows for several seasons. Symone also struck gold on the network with the Cheetah Girls films based on the books written by Deborah Gregory. Raven stars in the upcoming Cheetah Girls 2 set to air on the Disney Channel this August.

Movie News: Black Panthers in (and out of) love?

A Black Panther love story set in the late 1970s starring Mos Def and Sophie Okonedo? Say it is so.

If the project goes as planned, Okonedo and Mos Def will star in the independent film, Stringbean and Marcus. First-time filmmaker Tanya Hamilton, who also wrote the story, will direct.

Sounds like an interesting plot: the drama of the politically-charged panther party mixed with a love story? We know it's tough to get an independent film off the ground but we certainly hope this one's a go!