AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS: Don Cheadle Launches Radicle Act, Partners With Producers For Upcoming Book Adaptation
Actor Don Cheadle is launching Radicle Act as of Thursday coinciding with the current development of feature adaptation, Amari and the Night Brothers with Universal Pictures.
The move marks Cheadles latest partnership with Industrial Media per their first look deal, and with Radicle also adding Myka Price to the station of SVP and Head of Development.
Developments surrounding the adaptation of the novel began around the tail end of May when word broke that Universal nabbed the rights. Cheadle will produce via his banner alongside Madeville Films’ Todd and David Hoberman (Beauty and the Beast, Wonder), and Marsai Martin (Black-ish) and Josh Martin of Genius Productions.
Debut author B.B. Alston is penning the forthcoming novel billed as a contemporary fantasy about a middle-school age black girl who sets off on a journey during which she awakens her hidden powers.
According to Borys Kit at THR, HarperCollins imprint, Balzer + Bray, won a six-way auction for North American rights and has slated January 2021 release.
The Oscar and Emmy-nominated star of hit dramas like House Of Lies and Black Monday and 2015 biopic, Miles Ahead, had been attached to produce back in May. The actor recently bookended his involvement with Marvel/Disney following the $2.8 billion box-office Infinity Saga diptych, Avengers: Endgame.
The launch of Radicle Act further officiates things as Cheadle steps into fray to help create and roll out a versatile roster of content for multiple mediums in TV and film through their deal with Industrial.
“With the advent of Radicle Act, we hope to live up to the namesake and seed the landscape, producing new and exciting material across multiple platforms,” said Cheadle. “Mika and I are looking very forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work with Industrial Media and many others ASAP.”
“In addition to being an immensely talented actor, Don is also an accomplished producer going back to the Academy Award® winning Crash and continuing with television hits like House of Lies and Black Monday,” adds Industrial’s CEO, Eli Holzman.
“We feel privileged to have landed this deal with Don and Mika. Radicle Act will be a driver for us as we expand our efforts in scripted television and as we seek to support and collaborate with up-and-coming talent and new voices.”
Pryce stated, “I’m incredibly excited to be working with Don on a number of amazing projects across television and film, but especially excited to help curate projects that will center marginalized voices of all kinds within these spaces.”
With Radicle’s advancement on Amari and the Night Brothers, Industrial Media inks its third deal this year following partnerships with Momentum Content and its CEO, Christina Douglas, and award-winning director and exec producer Matthew Galkin and his company, Fairhaven Films.
Other recent Industrial Media highlights include the announcement of The Intellectual Property Corporation’s first scripted project, Dirty Thirty, for HBO with Courtney Kemp, and ABC recently announced the pickup of Industrial’s 19 Entertainment flagship series, American Idol.
Cheadle also has upcoming sci-fi Quibi drama, Don’t Look Deeper, Lebron James’ latest Warner Bros. sequel spectacle, Space Jam 2, and Netflix comedy, Black Stallions, pending.
Pryce was a native New Yorker long before her L.A. move and landing employment with Langley Park Pictures, Lionsgate International, and Evolution Media Capital. She then served as creative executive at Universal Pictures with credits under her belt now listing Happy Death Day, Pacific Rim 2, Little, and upcoming raunchy comedy Good Boys, and The Photograph.
Industrial Media, birthed from the acquisition of The Intellectual Property Company by the CORE Media Group collective, is backed by private equity firm Crestview Partners, BlackRock Asset Management and United Talent Agency. Cheadle is also repped by UTA.
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