Disney Archives - SHOPPE BLACK

Published on July 29, 2018

2 mins read

Rick Famuyiwa Producing ‘Sade’, an African Princess Fairytale Movie for Disney

Disney is developing live-action fairytale film “Sadé,” centered on an African princess with “Dope” director Rick Famuyiwa attached to produce.

The studio bought a pitch from Ola Shokunbi and Lindsey Reed Palmer, who will co-write the screenplay about a young African girl named Sadé whose kingdom is threatened by a mysterious evil force and accepts her newly discovered magical powers to protect her people, with the help of the kingdom’s prince.

Famuwiya will produce and Scott Falconer will executive produce through their Verse production banner. Tendo Nagenda and Zoe Kent are overseeing the project for the studio. A director has yet to be named.

Disney saw massive success this year with its Marvel tentpole “Black Panther,” set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda with worldwide box office grosses hitting $1.35 billion. It’s the third-highest domestic performer of all time at $700 million.

The studio’s 2009 animated comedy “The Princess and the Frog” starred Anika Noni Rose as a black waitress in 1912 New Orleans who dreams of owning her own restaurant. After kissing a prince who has been turned into a frog by a voodoo sorcerer, Tiana becomes a frog herself and must find a way to turn back into a human. “The Princess and the Frog” grossed $265 million worldwide.

Famuyiwa is represented by WME and Del Shaw. Verse is repped by WME. Shokunbi is repped by WME and Bloom Hergott. The news was first reported by Deadline.

Source: Variety

Published on February 26, 2018

1 min read

Disney Donates $1 Million to Open STEM Centers in Honor of Black Panther Success

In celebration of Black Panther’s overwhelming box office success, The Walt Disney Company is donating $1 million to help develop the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs.

BGCA will use the funds to grow its national curriculum and expand its outreach by building 12 new STEM Centers of Innovation around the country, including in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Harlem, Hartford, Memphis, New Orleans, Oakland, Orlando, Philadelphia, Washington, and Watts.

Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said in a statement, “Marvel Studios’ Black Panther is a masterpiece of movie making and has become an instant cultural phenomenon, sparking discussion, inspiring people young and old, and breaking down age-old industry myths.”

“It is thrilling to see how inspired young audiences were by the spectacular technology in [Black Panther], “so it’s fitting that we show our appreciation by helping advance STEM programs for youth, especially in underserved areas of the country, to give them the knowledge and tools to build the future they want.”

BGCA’s Centers of Innovation offer a variety of hands-on experiences for youth interested in learning about advanced technologies, including 3D printing, robotics, and video production.

The record-breaking film has earned $400 million in North America so far.