Entertainment/TV

Whelp, that’s that for ”The Acolyte” which has been canceled and won’t return for a second season on Disney+. 

Surprising? Not sure. The series had more than decent reviews but those often excitable Star Wars fans felt a way about it. Not saying that played a role.

The news, which surfaced in various trade publications, which Deadline reported on has left some fans shocked. Many took to Threads to express their disappointment and protest the decision. See, excitable. 

ICYMI the series, created by Leslye Headland, had just one season, and its abrupt cancellation surprised fans, especially since actor Manny Jacinto recently promoted the show at D23. 

Get this, according to Deadline, Lucasfilm decided not to proceed with the series, which concluded on a cliffhanger. Ugh, that always hurts when they leave fans hanging like that. 

The final episode featured Amandla Stenberg’s character, Osha, turning to the dark side to become the acolyte of Jacinto’s mysterious Sith master. 

Stenberg also portrayed Osha’s twin, Mae, who was initially trained by Jacinto’s character before aligning with the Jedi. 

So basically, the official reason for the cancellation has not been disclosed. 

Look, we want one. Fans deserve one. But we’re probably not getting one, ha. 

The show had a dope international cast, including Lee Jung-jae, Jodie Turner-Smith, Margarita Levieva, Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Rebecca Henderson, and Carrie-Anne Moss. Fans praised the series for its racial and gender diversity, as well as its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters. 

The Acolyte was the first Star Wars series led by a woman of color … with Stenberg—a queer woman of color—playing the lead. 

And it’s cancelled. Interesting.

The show also received acclaim for its critique of the Jedi’s imperialistic views, emphasizing that “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” whether Jedi or Sith. Like the entire premise isn’t about an evil authoritarian empire that oppresses pretty much everyone in it’s path.

However, the series faced backlash from racist and sexist viewers, often referred to as “the fandom menace.” That part was a thing. Please believe it. 

Maybe the viewership vs. production costs played a role. That’s always an issue in the streaming content game.

Let’s not play guesstimate why it got cancelled but we can infer all day long. SMH.

The post Controversial Star Wars Series ‘The Acolyte’ Abruptly Cancelled at Disney+ first appeared on The Source.

The post Controversial Star Wars Series ‘The Acolyte’ Abruptly Cancelled at Disney+ appeared first on The Source.

Kim Kardashian is expanding her mogul status with a new Hulu series, “Group Chat.” Developed in collaboration with her longtime friend La La Anthony and executive producer Kenya Barris, who is known for creating ABC’s “Black-ish” and its successful spinoff “Grown-ish.” The new project is part of a first-look deal with Disney. 

Get this, Kardashian is hard at work on the series, which is inspired by La La Anthony’s 2014 book, “The Love Playbook: Rules for Love, Sex, and Happiness.” As expected, La La Anthony will both star in and executive produce the show alongside Kardashian and Barris.

Kenya Barris has been busy. His recent slate of projects include Netflix’s “You People” and “The Vince Staples Show,” as well as “Diarra From Detroit” for BET+. The production of “Group Chat” will be a joint effort involving BET Studios, 20th Television, and Barris’s Khalabo Ink Society.

La La Anthony expressed her excitement about the upcoming series on Instagram on Wednesday, August 15, writing: “This show is about to be CRRAAZZZYYY! Everything you and your friends talk about in love, life, friendships, and relationships! Can’t wait!! Thank you @bslater9 for seeing the vision and putting this together! Let’s gooooooooo @hulu!!!!”

Kim Kardashian added: “I’m incredibly interested in telling stories that are personal, complicated, and relevant, drawing from my own experiences and those familiar to me.” She added that she was eager to work with 20th Television again, having previously teamed up with them on “American Horror Story: Delicate.”

Karey Burke, president of 20th Television, and Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, described Kardashian as a “multi-hyphenate in every sense of the word,” emphasizing her ability to create and produce stories that deeply resonate with audiences.

Let’s see how this show turns out before we just crown Kim K and hand over the keys to the castle.

The post New Hulu Series From Kim Kardashian and Black-Ish’s Kenya Barris Set to Star La La Anthony first appeared on The Source.

The post New Hulu Series From Kim Kardashian and Black-Ish’s Kenya Barris Set to Star La La Anthony appeared first on The Source.

“Godfather of Harlem” just teased the first image from its hotly anticipated fourth season, offering fans a glimpse of Rome Flynn in his new guest starring role as Frank Lucas. Ya’ll know who Frank Lucas was, right? Well … American Gangster. Yes, that Frank Lucas. 

Flynn joins the show alongside series lead Forest Whitaker. 

Get this, the upcoming season will present Lucas in a version set 10 years prior to the events depicted in the film “American Gangster,” where the character was famously portrayed by Denzel Washington. Flynn’s portrayal introduces viewers to a younger Frank Lucas, capturing his rise before becoming the notorious figure seen in the film.

Okay, according to MGM+, Lucas is framed as “a country boy from North Carolina who ventured to Harlem and, after initial friction with gangster Bumpy Johnson, eventually rose to become Bumpy’s fierce defender and right-hand man.”

Check out the official Season 4 synopsis that offers more insight:

“In the upcoming season, Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker) intensifies his brutal battle for control over Harlem, clashing with New York’s Mafia families while facing the emergence of a formidable new adversary in the newly arrived Black gangster Frank Lucas (Flynn). Additionally, following the tragic death of Malcolm X (Jason Alan Carvell), Bumpy struggles with his daughter Elise’s (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.”

If you want to know about the behind hte scenes, “Godfather of Harlem” is a production of ABC Signature, with Chris Brancato, Paul Eckstein, Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, Markuann Smith, and Ray Quinlan serving as executive producers. Michael Panes and Stephen Schiff are writing executive producers, and Swizz Beatz is the executive music producer.

The post SEE IT: ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Teases First Look at FuturNotorious Kingpin ‘Frank Lucas’ Played By Rome Flynn first appeared on The Source.

The post SEE IT: ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Teases First Look at FuturNotorious Kingpin ‘Frank Lucas’ Played By Rome Flynn appeared first on The Source.

Let’s get serious for a second, albeit artistically. NBCUniversal streaming platform Peacock just released the official trailer for its upcoming documentary “Gary”, which unpacks the life and legacy of Gary Coleman, who you recall was the beloved child star of hit sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes”, and the tragic circumstances surrounding his untimely death at age 42.

The project is directed by Robin Dashwood and produced by RAW, “Gary” explores Coleman’s meteoric rise to fame as the breakout star of the hit TV show “Diff’rent Strokes” and the struggles he faced in the years that followed. 

Get this, the premium documentary promises a comprehensive look at Coleman’s life, including his battles with depression and the controversies that emerged after his untimely death.

The official description reads like this: 

Gary follows the extraordinary story of Gary Coleman’s rise to international fame as the child star of “Diff’rent Strokes”; his struggles with fame; and the controversy surrounding his tragic death at the age of 42. For the first time, viewers will get insight into Coleman’s private world through exclusive interviews with his fellow actors, industry insiders, and his estranged ex-wife and parents.

This is a feature documentary, spanning 90 minutes, featuring never-before-seen interviews with people close to Coleman, including his “Diff’rent Strokes” co-star Todd Bridges, former managers, and members of his estranged family. These interviews aim to provide a deeper understanding of the challenges Coleman faced, both in the spotlight and in his personal life. Sounds like it will delve into some good, dark and very real experiences surrounding Coleman. 

“Gary” is executive produced by Louise Norman, Tom Sheahan, Steve Boettcher, and Mike Trinklein, and is set to premiere exclusively on Peacock on August 29.

Who was Gary Coleman? He became a household name in the late 1970s as Arnold Jackson, the wisecracking younger brother in “Diff’rent Strokes”. His signature phrase, “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” became iconic. However, despite his early success, Coleman’s life was marred by legal battles, financial difficulties, and health problems related to a congenital kidney disease, which stunted his growth and required frequent medical treatment. Deep all around. 

Sadly, as an adult, Coleman struggled to find steady work in Hollywood and faced numerous personal challenges. He had a highly publicized legal battle with his parents over the mismanagement of his earnings. In 2010, Coleman’s life ended in controversy when he died following a fall at his home. His death was ruled accidental, but it fueled widespread speculation and debate. There goes the controversy around his death and we’re sure the documentary will go into that in detail. 

Viewers can watch the trailer for “Gary” below and stream exclusively on Peacock on August 29.

The post WATCH: ‘Gary’ Trailer For New Peacock Documentary Unpacking Gary Coleman’s Career, Legacy and Untimely Death first appeared on The Source.

The post WATCH: ‘Gary’ Trailer For New Peacock Documentary Unpacking Gary Coleman’s Career, Legacy and Untimely Death appeared first on The Source.