Ta-Nehisi Coates’ NY Times bestselling novel Between The World and Me is going from a stage play into an HBO adaptation.
Angela Bassett, Phylicia Rashad, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Courtney B. Vance, Alicia Garza, Joe Morton, Pauletta Washington, Susan Kelechi Watson, and Oprah Winfrey are the first to be cast in Between The World and Me.
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The book is written as a letter to Coates’ teenage son and recounts the author’s experiences growing up in Baltimore’s inner city and his growing fear of daily violence against the Black community. The long-form letter to Coates’ son, examines what it means to be Black in America today.
Kamilah Forbes directed the 2018 play that was held at the Apollo Theater. She will also direct the HBO version which is based on the stage show.
Between The World and Me will combine elements of that production, including powerful readings from Coates’ book. It will also incorporate documentary footage from the actors’ home life, archival footage, and animation.
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Susan Kelechi Watson, and Roger Ross Williams to executive produce the special along with Forbes. Williams’ production company One Story Up produces.
The adaptation will an HBO Special Event. The special, which is currently in production under COVID-19 guidelines, debuts this fall on HBO and will also be available to stream on HBO Max.
Additional cast to be added.