Tonya Pinkins Replaces Niecy Nash In ABC Limited Series ‘‘Women Of The Movement’
Deadline is reporting that Tony winner Tonya Pinkins will be replacing Niecy Nash and co-starring opposite Adrienne Warren in ABC’s limited series Women of the Movement, .
Set to premiere in 2021, the six-episode limited series from creator-writer Marissa Jo Cerar centers on Mamie Till-Mobley (Warren), who devoted her life to seeking justice for her son Emmett Till. Pinkins will play Alma, Emmett Till’s grandmother. Nash exited the series for personal reasons.
After Emmett’s murder in Mississippi, Alma, a young grandmother who had been like a second mother to Emmett, fought to protect her family in Chicago while her daughter Mamie travelled the country seeking justice in Emmett’s name. A force of nature, Alma was Mamie’s rock in the face of unbelievable tragedy.
Women of the Movement is inspired by the book Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement by Devery S. Anderson. Cerar serves as showrunner and executive produces with Jay-Z, Jay Brown and Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith via Roc Nation; Will Smith and James Lassiter for Overbrook; as well as Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor and Michael Lohmann of Kapital Entertainment. Also executive producing are Gina Prince-Bythewood, who will direct the first episode, Rosanna Grace for Serendipity Film Group; Alex Foster and John Powers Middleton of Middleton Media Group; and David Clark via Mazo Partners. Kapital is the studio.
A renowned theater actress, Pinkins is a three-time Tony nominee, winning the award in 1992 for Jelly’s Last Jam. On TV, she is probably best known for her role as Livia Fry on All My Children. She has recurred on such series as 24, Gotham, Madam Secretary, Fear the Walking Dead and God Friended Me as well as limited series 11.22.63.
She is also writer, director and producer of the upcoming feature film Red Pill, which is premiering in February.