The Quick Read: Taraji P. Henson To Produce And Star In Film About Emmett Till

Earthquakes, comebacks, and a hacker who loves N.W.A. are on our list of must-know news this Wednesday. Read up on everything you need to know today.

Taraji P. Henson has signed on to produce and star in a film about Emmett Till, which will be directed by John Singleton. The film, currently titled The Emmett Till Story, will see Henson play Till’s mother Mamie Till-Mobley. (Shadow and Act)

Tavis Smiley has landed a new TV deal and announced a five-city tour on workplace behavior, despite allegations of sexual misconduct. Smiley’s new show, The Upside With Tavis Smiley, will celebrate the power to overcome and debut later in 2018. (The Root)

Mudslides in Southern California have reportedly killed 13 people. Heavy rains created massive rivers of mud that destroyed homes and forced rescues as roads were closed. (CNN)

David Oyelowo is set to appear in Masterpiece and BBC One’s new Les Miserables mini-series. The actor will play Javert and star opposite Dominic West, who will take on the role of Jean Valjean. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Keri Hilson recently opened up to celebrity psychic Reginald Lewis during The Steve Harvey Show about hitting rock bottom and plans to return to music. After a hiatus from music and a recent breakup, Hilson told Lewis, “I’m crawling back to walking in my purpose and using my gifts… I had to give up music for a while.” (BET)

Fans of Big Brother UK are outraged at singer Ginuwine, who is facing accusations of transphobia after declining to kiss a transgender contestant on the show, India Willoughby. (The Grio)

An N.W.A. fan in New Zealand reportedly hacked a local police radio frequency to play the group’s infamous “Fuck Tha Police.” Police were forced to listen to the song repeatedly, but the hacker did mix things up with Rage Against The Machine’s cover of “Fuck Tha Police.” (AV Club)

O.J. Simpson has addressed conspiracy theories that he is Khloe Kardashian’s father. While out and about in Vegas, paparazzi caught up with The Juice to ask about his thoughts on Kardashian’s pregnancy and if congratulations were in order. “Well, for Bob [Robert Kardashian], God bless his soul, yeah. I don’t know for me. I don’t think for me. I have nothing to do with it. I would be proud … but trust me, I had nothing to do with it.” (TMZ)

A magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck 27 miles off the coast of Honduras on Wednesday, leaving the Caribbean and Central America vulnerable to tsunamis. The threat eventually passed and little damage has been reported. (CNN)