Black Lighting may have just ended but Nafessa Williams already has her next role lined up and it’s going to be dope!
Nafessa Williams joins previously cast Y’lan Noel and Christina Jackson in FX’s The Spook Who Sat By The Door. Lucas Till, Nathan Darrow, and Tom Irwin have also been cast. The pilot is executive produced by Lee Daniels.
The series is based on Sam Greenlee’s spy novel that centered on the fictional story of Dan Freeman, the first African American CIA officer hired by the agency in the late 1960s. He is a patriot, a Vietnam vet, and secretly, a Black Revolutionary.
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The story chronicles the quest of Freeman (Noel), who was recruited as part of an affirmative-action program. After a very competitive selection process he trains in high-level combat and espionage. However, following this arduous training, this model recruit is rewarded with a post in the reprographics, aka photocopying, department, ‘left by the door’ as a token of the CIA’s ‘racial equality’.
Williams is playing Etta Henry, a high-class working girl. Till is set for the role of CIA agent Graham Renfroe, with Darrow cast as CIA Assistant Director Alfred Ames. Lastly Irwin portraying political operative and CIA Director Jack Turner.
Jackson was previously announced as Joy Freeman. She is Dan’s wife and an up-and-coming attorney committed to making a difference in her community.
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Leigh Dana Jackson is writing the pilot and Gerard McMurray is directing. Lee Daniels is executive producing alongside Marc Velez, Leigh Dana Jackson and Gerard McMurray. Jackson will also serve as showrunner.
Greenlee’s book was published in 1969 and turned into a feature film in 1973. In the film the roles of Dan and Joy Freeman were played by Lawrence Cook and Janet League, respectively.
Production for the series is underway.