Yahya Abdul-Mateen is starring in and executive producing the limited series The Scent of Burnt Flowers. Charles D. King’s Macro Television Studios is developing the series which comes from Blitz Bazawule.
The six-episode series which is described as a geopolitical fugitive thriller is based on Bazawule’ upcoming first novel of the same name, which will be released in 2022.
Per the synopsis, mermaids, military coups and love triangles are the fantastical elements that make up the ambitious six-episode geopolitical fugitive thriller limited series. The show intertwines the dark chapters of history with a magical realist lens, elevating the story to an otherworldly experience. Set in the 1960’s where the Civil Rights struggle in America and the independence movement in Africa have reached their zenith, the story follows Melvin and Bernadette (neither have been cast yet), an African American couple on the run, and the charismatic Ghanaian musician, Kwesi, (Abdul-Mateen), whom they lean on to preserve their freedom.
Bazawule is creating, writing, directing and executive producing The Scent of Burnt Flowers via his newly formed production company Inward Gaze. Along with Bazawule and Abdul-Mateen, Charles D. King, Marta Fernandez, and Ahmadou Seck will executive produce for Macro Television Studios along with Gabriel Mena and Natalia Williams of M88.
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In a competitive situation, Ballantine Books/Penguin Random House won the publishing rights and Macro Television Studios secured the television rights
The Scent of Burnt Flowers doesn’t have an outlet attached yet and casting is still underway.
Abdul-Mateen’s credits include HBO’s Watchmen, The Get Down, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Aquaman, and more. Up next he will star in Candyman and The Matrix 4, both which are due out later this year. In 2022, he will star in the Mad Max sequel, Furiosa and Aquaman 2.
Bazawule wrote and directed The Burial of Kojo, which is currently streaming on Netflix. He co-directed Beyonce visual album Black is King and is directing Warner Bros. feature adaptation musical The Color Purple, which is set to go into production in early 2022.