BV Entertainment Newswire May 24

'Raisin' Up

Lorraine Hansberry's classic play 'A Raisin in the Sun' is headed to the small screen.

Yesterday, ABC announced it will broadcast a movie adaptation of the award winning play, starring Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sanaa Lathan, Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad -- cast members from the 2004 Broadway revival.

Kenny Leon, voted one of 'People' magazine's "50 Most Beautiful,” and who helmed the Broadway run, will direct the production. In an interview with Black Voices, the Atlanta-based theater whiz stressed the necessity of the project.

"I think it’s an important work that should be seen by a new generation of people and I think we can impact many, many lives; in addition to those that we impacted on Broadway…I think we have an opportunity to reach many more people."

'A Raisin in the Sun' tells the story of a family living and struggling on Chicago’s South Side during the 1950s. It was the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway, bowing in 1959, with a cast that included Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Ruby Dee and Louis Gossett Jr. The Columbia Pictures feature film version with the same cast followed in 1961, and is considered a classic.

The movie will be produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron's Storyline Entertainment, Combs' Bad Boy World Wide Entertainment Group and Sony Pictures Television. Zadan and Meron executive produced the Oscar winning 'Chicago' and the Emmy winning 'Gypsy,' 'Annie,' 'Serving in Silence,' 'Life with Judy Garland,' and the 1997 television adaptation of 'Cinderella' starring Brandy and Whitney Houston.

Production on the new 'Raisin' will start later this year in Toronto, with a proposed air-date in 2007.

Combs, who received high marks for his Broadway debut as the male lead, has starred in films such as 'Made' and 'Monster's Ball.' In a recent interview with 'MTV Radio Networks,' the hip-hop mogul said he was looking forward to getting back into the role. "One of the exciting things is going to be the preparation for the movie. I'm gonna be stripping myself down, really moving out of my house, moving into just a studio apartment and not having no Blackberry, no cell phone, really getting myself into the character."

Paris Qualles, who wrote 'The Inkwell,' 'The Tuskegee Airmen' and 'The Rosa Parks Story,' has been tapped to pen the script.

"I think the challenge is just to make it as beautiful as it reads on the stage, to adapt this story for the technology of television," said Leon. "And I think this is a challenge that’s welcomed by everybody on the team. I don't think it will be difficult to pull off.

"It's not trying to do the stage on television, it's just trying to adapt it for film," he added "I'm looking forward to it and I'm excited to work with the Broadway team, they are some incredible people and incredible artists. And we're looking to take it to the next level."

'Boondocks' Move

The DVD release of the Cartoon Network's animated series 'The Boondocks,' has been moved from its initial June 13 date to July 25.

All 15 episodes of the Aaron McGruder created show will be packaged as a three-disc set enttiled 'The Boondocks: The Complete First Season: Uncut and Uncensored,' retailing at $49.95. Based on the award winning and controversial comic strip-- distributed in 350 newspapers nationwide-- about the adventures of two young brothers, Riley and Huey Freeman, who experience a culture clash when they move from Southside Chicago to the suburbs to live with their grandfather. Regina King ('Miss Congeniality 2,' 'Ray') and John Witherspoon ('Friday After Next') are among the actors who voice characters on the satiric toon.

'Uncut and Uncensored's' extensive bonuses include a behind-the-scenes featurette, commentary on select episodes, and deleted scenes.

Hip Hop 'Smackdown'

Academy Award winning rap trio Three 6 Mafia performed live at the WWE's 'SmackDown!' event in Bakersfield, California on May 23. According to a rep, the show was taped and will air on 'Friday night SmackDown' May 26 (check local listings). The special appearance coincides with the release of the new compilation CD 'WWE: Wreckless Intent,' featuring WWE Superstar theme music performed by some of the biggest and hottest rock, alternative and hip-hop artists. Three 6 contributes the track "Some Bodies Gonna Get It" (associated with WWE personality, Mark Henry) -- said to be the first new music from the Memphis rap collective since the song "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" (from Craig Brewer's 'Hustle & Flow') won them the Oscar for the Best Achievement In Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song).

'Proud' Moment

The inspiring story of the USS Mason – the only WWII battleship taking African American sailors into combat-- has been made into a feature film titled 'Proud,' which recently arrived in stores via Lionsgate this month. Starring the legendary Ossie Davis in his last feature film role, 'Proud' was written and directed by Mary Pat Kelly, author of the book 'Proudly We Served: The Men Of The USS Mason.' Janet Hubert-Whitten, Aidan Quinn, Darnell Williams, Kidada Jones and Rashad Haughton (brother of late R&B singer Aaliyah) also star in the family saga, which was produced by Tommy Hilfiger’s daughter, Ally Hilfiger.

On May 26, veteran sailors from the USS Mason will be honored at a reception on the new USS Mason DDG87 on Pier 90 as part of New York City's Fleet Week. John Fuller, the African American captain of the ship, will be presented with the DVD by USS Mason Vet and hero Lorenzo Dufau, who Davis played in the movie.