She’s the youngest Hollywood executive producer!
Marsai Martin’s new comedy “Saturdays” has just received a pilot green light from the Disney Channel, Deadline reports.
“Saturdays” centers around a 13-year-old girl, Paris Johnson, and her competitive roller skating team. Paris has been skating since she was four, practicing at a local rink owned by a former ’90s hip-hop backup dancer. “Saturdays” is the spot, and Paris is the leader of her crew. When young Paris has a sickle cell disease flare-up, she will begin the real challenge, focusing on proving naysayers wrong and overcoming her disease.
Y’all … I’m so happy to finally be able to talk about this … ♥️ pic.twitter.com/c0uOnp8WR9
advertisement— Marsai Martin (@marsaimartin) March 11, 2021
16-year-old Martin produces the series under her Genius Entertainment banner alongside writer and executive producer Norman Vance Jr. (Moesha, Roll Bounce, Girlfriends), with Charles Stone III (Drumline, black-ish) as director.
“When we met with Marsai about this project, we couldn’t have been more impressed with her passion for diverse storytelling and commitment to female empowerment. We’re extremely excited to team up with Norman and the Genius Entertainment team to tap into roller-skating culture in a way that’s truly both authentic and aspirational for our audience,” Rafael Garcia, vice president, development, Disney branded television said.
Martin launched Genius Entertainment alongside parents Joshua and Carol Martin with the goal of “creat[ing] stories meant to inspire, illuminate, and celebrate the diverse experiences of girls and people of color.” In 2019, Martin starred, and executive produced the feature film Little, becoming the youngest executive producer in Hollywood. She has also earned seven NAACP Image Awards for her role as Diane Johnson on “black-ish”. Martin will executive produce alongside Nicole Dow and her parents.
An all-star cast accompanies “Saturdays.” Omar Gooding (Family Time) and Golden Brooks (Girlfriends) will play Paris’ parents—joined by Jermaine Harris (The Map of Tiny Perfect Things) as her older brother and aspiring D.J. and Daria Johns (Nappily Ever After) and Samantha Smith as Paris’ best friends and skating partners. Iconic hip-hop artist Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker will also star in the comedy as roller rink owner Duchess.
WE LOVE TO SEE IT! Haven’t watched the channel in years, but I will absolutely watch for you. Congratulations, Marsai!
— Ashley (@AshleyRTrawick) March 11, 2021
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Marsai Martin produced a predominantly black cast show for Disney channel. At 27, I will unashamedly tune in. I love her.
— ✨ Lady Scrollerton ✨ (@BrandiOnTheRox_) March 12, 2021
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Beautiful, dark-skinned, Black girls with 4C hair and braids?!?!
We LOVE to see it! Yes, niece! pic.twitter.com/5E6R3ee7ZH
advertisement— Angie’s Daughter (@zoesteegurl) March 11, 2021
Marsai Martin!
advertisementLook at this casting. Look at the story. I am so excited for this young girl. She is going to break lots of barriers. Plus, the history of Black folx and roller skating. I’m rooting for her. https://t.co/HJuCnAnjqo
— Marquise. (@MarquiseDavon) March 11, 2021
Omg… women… THAT LOOK LIKE ME. pic.twitter.com/N8jHaqpQpK
— Black Women Supremacy (@Kid_Earth2001) March 11, 2021
Dark skin girls
Sickle cell
The representation is just warming my soul ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/cOQfJiLMyA— Rachel (@teawithmybook) March 11, 2021
Sickle Cell oh wow. This is gonna be such a beautiful way to teach young children about something that’s really effected the Black community for so long and still goes very much unrecognized. Thank you!
advertisement— HRH of Altea ✨ (@RheaMorris_) March 11, 2021
marsai martin refusing to make stories about black trauma and casting dark skin black girls in her works.. a queen!! some these grown black creatives need to take notes from her
— The African Geek (@multifandommbih) March 12, 2021
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We can’t wait for “Saturdays” to hit our televisions!
Congratulations, Marsai!
Photo Courtesy of Hemisphere Magazine