If you’ve seen the 2018 film, “Sorry to Bother You,” then you’re probably well aware that filmmaker Boots Riley is not a timid filmmaker. In his debut feature, the writer-director mixed bright colors and absurdist visuals to create a satire that is wholly unique and thoroughly entertaining. So, should we really be surprised that his next project is a TV series about a 13-foot-tall man? Probably not.
According to Variety, Boots Riley is set to write and direct a new half-hour Amazon TV series titled, “I’m a Virgo.” And the series is going to star Jharrel Jerome as a 13-foot-tall Black man living in Oakland, California. And believe it or not, “I’m a Virgo” is described as a “coming-of-age” story. Basically, we really have no idea what Riley has up his sleeve, but he definitely found a great star to lead the cast.
Jerome is relatively new when it comes to major film and TV projects. His biggest roles have been in some incredibly acclaimed works, however. You probably would recognize him as one of the stars of Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning feature, “Moonlight.” Most recently, he was one of the leads in the incredible Ava DuVernay limited series, “When They See Us.” His next feature is in the recently-debuted festival film, “Concrete Cowboy.”
“I’m thrilled to be working with Amazon on this project,” said Riley. “This show will either have me lauded or banned, and as such, I have demanded payment upfront.”
Albert Cheng, COO and co-head of television for Amazon Studios, added, “‘I’m A Virgo’ is refreshingly original and there’s nothing else like it on television. No one is quite like Boots, and we’re so excited to be working with him and Jharrel on this fantastical, funny, and utterly unique new series. We can’t wait for our Prime Video customers to see it.”
“I’m a Virgo” marks only the second film and/or TV project in Riley’s career. An acclaimed musician, Riley has only just begun his takeover of the film/TV industry, beginning with “Sorry to Bother You.” There’s no release date set for “I’m A Virgo,” but you better believe people will be excited to see what the filmmaker has coming next.