Cast Announced For Justin Simien’s Dear White People Netflix SeriesPosted by Wilson Morales
September 1, 2016
With production set to begin for Netflix’s new series ‘Dear White People,’ Antoinette Robertson, DeRon Horton, John Patrick Amedori and Ashley Blaine Featherson have been cast as series regulars with Marque Richardson also joins as recurring, reprising his role from the 2014 film.
Dear White People is a comedy series based on writer/director/producer Justin Simien’s critically-acclaimed, Sundance award-winning satirical indie film. The series will be produced by Lionsgate, whose sister company Roadside Attractions released the original film in 2014. The 10-episode, 30-minute series will go into production in September and will premiere on Netflix around the world in 2017.
Set among a diverse group of students of color as they navigate a predominantly white Ivy League college where racial tensions are often swept under the rug, Dear White People is a send up of “post-racial” America that also weaves a universal story about forging one’s own unique path.
Simien will write for the series and direct several episodes. Executive producers are Yvette Lee Bowser (Black-ish, Living Single, Different World), Stephanie Allain (Hustle & Flow, Dear White People), and Julia Lebedev (The Dinner, Dear White People).
Robertson (The Haves and the Have Nots, Hart of Dixie) will play ‘Coco Conners,’ an Economics major and bombshell who is baffled by Winchester’s hierarchy of blackness that favors natural hair over the “good hair” she bought. Unfazed by the blackface party, Coco deplores Samantha White’s “entry level black rage” and her “self-serving” Dear White People radio show. Robertson is represented by Cunningham Escott Slevin & Doherty (CESD), Luber Roklin Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman.
Horton (Dirt, Burning Sands) will play ‘Lionel Higgins,’ a self-proclaimed nerd, becomes an unlikely hero for being the only student journalist to write a firsthand report on the blackface party that rocks Winchester. Despite this early victory, Lionel — who is still coming to terms with his sexuality — discovers that navigating between the disparate black and gay cultures on campus is his most arduous challenge yet. Horton is represented by ICM Partners, Gallant Management and Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown.
Amedori (The Vatican Tapes, Hindsight) has been cast as ‘Gabe,’ Sam’s intellectual equal and their debates are passionate and as heated as their secret (for now) affair. Gabe genuinely loves Sam and wants their relationship to go to the next level, but feels pushed aside in the groundswell of Sam’s racially political movement. Amedori is represented by The Gersh Agency and Authentic Talent and Literary Management
Featherson (Drew, Glee) joins as ‘Joelle Brooks,’ a girl who can code switch at lightning speed and is Sam White’s best friend. While smart, funny and charming, Joelle prefers to orbit Sam’s bright star instead of shining on her own, but soon starts to covet Sam’s life. Coincidentally, Featherson had a small in the 2014 film as “Curls” and is pleased to play a new and expanded role for the series. Featherson is represented by Pantheon, Discover Management, and Darrell Miller at Fox Rothschild LLP.
Richardson (All the Way, Step Sisters) is set to reprise the role of “Reggie” in Dear White People, recurring as the character he previously portrayed in the 2014 feature by the same name. Reggie Green is a Computer Science Major and Sam’s right hand man. He’s one of the more radical voices at Winchester thanks in no small part to his having been raised by a Black Panther. Often underestimated by the campus at large, Reggie uses his hyper intellect and tech smarts to make a real difference on campus as he strives to live up to the expectations of his parents. Richardson is represented by Link Entertainment and and Myman Greenspan Fineman Fox Rosenberg Light
Dear White People is Lionsgate’s second original series for Netflix. The critically-acclaimed global blockbuster Orange Is The New Black returned for its fourth season on June 17.
