Jharrel Jerome, Janet Mock, Wendell Pierce, Mj Rodriguez, Yara Shahidi Added To HBO’s Between The World And Me

Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us), Marc Bamuthi Joseph (We Shall Not Be Moved), Janet Mock (Pose), jazz pianist/composer Jason Moran, Wendell Pierce (Jack Ryan), Mj Rodriguez (Pose, Hollywood), Kendrick Sampson (Insecure), Yara Shahidi (Black-ish, Grown-ish) and Michelle Wilson (Sweat) have joined the cast of Between the World and Me, HBO’s adaptation of the stage show based on Ta-Nehisi Coates’ New York Times bestseller.

They join previously announced cast members Angela Bassett, Alicia Garza, Joe Morton, Phylicia Rashad, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Courtney B. Vance, Pauletta Washington, Susan Kelechi Watson and Oprah Winfrey, who were the first wave of featured performers announced.

BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME is directed by Kamilah Forbes who also serves as executive producer; executive produced by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Susan Kelechi Watson and Roger Ross Williams. Williams’ production company ONE STORY UP produces.

Originally adapted and staged by the Apollo Theater in 2018, the special will combine elements of that production, including powerful readings from Coates’ book, and will once again be directed by award-winning director and Apollo Theater Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes. It will also incorporate documentary footage from the actors’ home life, archival footage, and animation. The special, which is currently in production under COVID-19 guidelines, debuts this fall on HBO and will also be available to stream on HBO Max.