Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book-turned-stage-show
Between the World and Me is getting the HBO treatment. The broadcaster confirmed in a release that it is working with the award-winning author and journalist to adapt his 2015 novel into an upcoming TV event executive produced by Coates and
This Is Us star Susan Kelechi Watson.
Between the World and Me is a deep look at Black Americans’ history with the country and explores what it means to live in a Black body. Coates wrote the book in the style of a letter to his teenaged son, recounting stories of early life growing up in Baltimore and his gradual awakening to the daily violence faced by the Black community in America. When it was published, the book went on to become a
New York Times bestseller, won the National Book Award, and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. A few years later, in 2018, it was adapted into a stage show and performed at the Apollo Theatre in New York and the Kennedy Center in Atlanta.“Through
Between the World and Me we intend to create a space of communion where Black people can metabolize our grief, celebrate our joys and continue to amplify the current discourse regarding race and culture in our country and around the world,” Watson, who starred in the adaptations,
said in a statement. “Ta-Nehisi’s words lend themselves to an experience that is shared by so many of us. I’m thrilled to work with HBO and these brilliant minds on a special that is both timely and urgent.”[video_embed id='1984979']RELATED: Canadian teen shares his experiences with anti-Black racism [/video_embed]Kamilah Forbes, who is a long-time friend of Coates (and "Aunt Kamilah" in the book and to his son) executive produced the Apollo show and will direct the TV adaption. Forbes and Coates have been close both personally and professionally since their days together at Howard University. “As people across our country continue to speak out about violent, systemic racism and the urgent need for tangible change, Ta-Nehisi’s words resonate as strongly today as they did five years ago,” Forbes added. “I’m excited to collaborate again with both Ta-Nehisi and HBO on this important special event, ensuring that the powerful voices in this work, and cry for justice from the Black community, continues to reach a broader audience.”HBO also confirmed that Roger Ross Williams—the
first Black director to win an Oscar for his 2010 short documentary,
Music by Prudence—has signed on to executive produce. “
Between the World and Me is a seminal piece of literature that has pushed crucial conversations around our country and racism to the forefront of our cultural conversation,” he said in the release.Similar to the stage iteration, this TV offering will be a mix of readings, documentary footage from the actors’ home lives, archival footage and animation. The network didn’t add additional casting details or an exact airdate other than fall, but it did confirm a donation of an undisclosed amount will be made to the Apollo Theatre and Howard University in honour of the project. The special will be totally shot and produced under the new COVID-19 health and safety filming guidelines.
In addition to penning
Between the World and Me, Coates has also authored
The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power, and the Oprah book club selection
The Water Dancer. All of his novels explore themes of race and racism in America. In between lending his voice to publications like
The Atlantic and
The New Yorker, Coates is also credited as the current author of the Marvel comics
The Black Panther and
Captain America.HBO recently launched a campaign to amplify Black voices,
creating a landing page on their U.S. platform and
a YouTube playlist where viewers can explore snippets of shows like
Insecure,
Watchmen and
I May Destroy You as well as documentaries, specials and movies that highlight the Black experience.[video_embed id='1993445']BEFORE YOU GO: What We're Watching: Black lives in the spotlight [/video_embed]
