André Holland To Star In Huey P. Newton Limited Series For Apple; Don Cheadle To Direct
Variety reports that Apple has ordered the limited series “The Big Cigar” about Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton, with André Holland to star in the lead role
The six-episode series hails from Warner Bros. Television. Jim Hecht, who recently created “Winning Time” at HBO, serves as writer and executive producer. Janine Sherman Barrois, the showrunner for shows like “Claws” and “Self Made” and the creator and showrunner of “The Kings of Napa” at OWN, will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Don Cheadle is onboard to direct and executive produce the first two episodes.
Based on the Playboy article of the same name by Joshuah Bearman, “The Big Cigar” tells the true story of how Newton relied on his best friend, Bert Schneider — the Hollywood producer behind “Easy Rider” — to elude a nationwide manhunt and escape to Cuba while being pursued into exile by the FBI.
Hecht co-wrote the story for the series with Bearman, with Bearman also executive producing. Sherman Barrois executive produces under her Folding Chair Productions banner, which has an overall deal at WBTV. Joshua Davis and Arthur Spector also executive produce via Epic, a division of Vox Media Studios.
Holland is best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Moonlight,” in which he played Kevin. He has also previously starred in critically-acclaimed features like “42” and “Selma,” as well as shows like “The Eddy,” “The Knick,” “Castle Rock,” and Season 6 of “American Horror Story.”