Lee Daniels is arguably the busiest man in Hollywood. Fresh off the success of Empire, the showrunner is currently developing an upcoming show for Fox tentatively titled Star that will follow a female band. Daniels will write and produce the show, which will be based in Atlanta. Could this be a Southern Empire? [The Source]
We are happy to hear that Tracy Morgan is seemingly on the path to a full recovery after suffering serious injuries in a fatal car accident last summer. After the crash, Morgan’s upcoming FX series was put on hold, but FX network execs said that the untitled project would be proceeding in the coming months, with Morgan in the starring role. [Deadline]
Well, this is an interesting development. Fourteen years after Training Day was released in theaters, producers are gearing up to release a remake of the movie on the small screen. The series would take place 15 years after the movie and would follow a Black rookie cop and a White veteran officer. As long as Denzel makes a cameo appearance, we’re in! [Business Insider]
Ava DuVernay continues to receive praise for her work. It was just announced that the Selma director would be receiving the Freedom Award from Memphis’ National Civil Rights Museum. DuVernay will receive the award, which is given to someone who has helped pave the way in the fight for civil rights, in an Oct. 22 ceremony alongside civil rights activist Ruby Bridges-Hall and Freedom Rider Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. [Page Six]
Dr. Dre is doctoring the city of Compton. Just days before releasing his highly anticipated album, Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre, the rapper announced that he would be using all of the album’s royalties to build a performing arts center in Compton. “He clearly has a heart for Compton, especially our youth,” Compton Mayor Aja Brown said in a statement. [Huffington Post]
Prince has a mouthful to say about the modern-day recoding industry. Speaking at a National Association of Black Journalists convention over the weekend, the Purple One equated record labels to slavery. “Record labels are just like—I’m going to say the word—slavery. I would tell any young artist don’t sign,” he said, applauding Jay Z’s paid streaming service, Tidal, for putting the artists first. “Once we have our own resources, we can provide what we need for ourselves…We have to show support for artists who are trying to own things for themselves.” [Rolling Stone]
Could Empire have another lawsuit on its hands? Just days after a woman came forward claiming that she was the real Cookie, Marvin Gaye’s son, Marvin Gaye III, is reportedly planning to sue Lee Daniels. Gaye said that the Empire creator stole his idea for the series, which he says he pitched to multiple Hollywood execs, many of whom associate with Daniels. [Madame Noire]
