HBO is clearly working hard to get the upcoming adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book “Between the World and Me” on TV screens this year. When it was announced that the network was working on an adaptation of the book, people were already excited enough to see this story told at a time when American politics and social discourse is dominated by the death of George Floyd and the prevalence of Black Lives Matter protests. However, with the cast that was just announced, “Between the World and Me” has quickly turned into one of the most anticipated projects of the fall.
READ MORE: HBO Adapting Ta-Nehisi Coates’ ‘Between The World & Me’ For A New Special
According to Variety, the cast for this HBO special will include Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey, “Black Lives Matter” founder Alicia Garza, Joe Morton, Phylicia Rashad, The Roots’ Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Courtney B. Vance, Pauletta Washington, and Susan Kelechi Watson. The new special is said to be inspired by the stage show that adapted Coates’ book back in 2018. “Between the World and Me” will include elements of the stage show as well as readings from the cast, archival footage and home video from the actors’ lives, and animation. Kamilah Forbes, the director of the stage show, is on board to helm the new adaptation.
For those not familiar with Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book, “Between the World and Me” is written in the style of a letter that is meant for the author’s teenage son. The story he tells spotlights his childhood growing up in Baltimore, where he feared violence daily and had to deal with the effects of white supremacy that permeates many different aspects of life.
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To say that HBO has put together an all-star cast is an understatement. Just having Oprah Winfrey aboard is a huge thing for any project, let alone an adaptation of an acclaimed book that will also include appearances from folks like Bassett and Vance, along with everyone else. This makes “Between the World and Me” a must-see event, already.
A release date has yet to be set, but production is said to be going on right now and the special will debut sometime in the fall on HBO and HBO Max.