Oscar-winner Regina King recently attended the Los Angeles premiere of her latest film, ‘Shirley.’ The highly anticipated biopic chronicles the life and political career of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and the first Black woman to run for President.
The premiere, held on March 21, 2024, drew a star-studded crowd, with King taking center stage as both the lead actress and one of the film producers. She was joined by her sister, Reina King, who also served as a producer on the project.
The film, directed by John Ridley and written by Rebecca Hall, explores the life and career of Shirley Chisholm, who was a trailblazer in American politics. The story follows her journey from her early days as a teacher and community activist to her historic run for the presidency in 1972.
Regina King and Reina King speak onstage during Netflix’s ‘Shirley’ Los Angeles Premiere at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on March 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
At the premiere, Regina King spoke about the importance of telling Chisholm’s story and the impact she had on American politics. “Shirley was a true maverick, and, you know, we use this term all the time, but she was a true first,” King said. “She was the first Black woman to be elected to Congress and the first Black woman to run for President. Her story is one that needs to be told and I’m honored to be a part of bringing it to the screen.”
The film also stars Lance Reddick as Chisholm’s husband, Conrad Chisholm, and features a powerful supporting cast that includes actors like Jeffrey Wright, André Holland, and Michael K. Williams.
The premiere celebrated Shirley Chisholm’s legacy. Attendees were treated to a special screening of the film, followed by a Q&A session with the cast and crew.
Regina King’s performance in the film has already garnered critical acclaim, with many praising her portrayal of Chisholm as both powerful and nuanced. In an interview with Variety, King spoke about the challenges of playing such a significant historical figure. “It was important to me to show the humanity in her and to show that she was a real person who had real struggles and real triumphs,” she said.
The film is set to be released on Netflix on March 22, 2024. Watch the trailer below.
Singer and actress Cassie Ventura, known artistically as Cassie, announced her pregnancy on Wednesday. The announcement was shared via a touching social media post featuring a series of intimate photographs with husband Alex Fine and their two daughters, Frankie, 5, and Sunny, 3.
The “Me & U” singer began dating Fine shortly after her split from Sean “Diddy” Combs. They made their relationship Instagram official in December 2018. The couple announced their first pregnancy, got engaged, married, and welcomed their oldest daughter the following year. Their second child, Sunny, was born in March of 2021.
The most recent pregnancy announcement comes more than a year after the 38-year-old filed and subsequently settled a lawsuit against her ex, Diddy, alleging various forms of abuse during their relationship. Fine has been incredibly supportive of his wife during this time.
The soon-to-be father-of-three also expressed his excitement in a post captioned “Best gift I could ask for.” In his Instagram stories, he revealed that Cassie is six months pregnant.
Preacher and producer DeVon Franklin is engaged to his girlfriend, celebrity trainer, Maria Castillo.
Franklin, who announced his split from Meagan Good in December 2021, proposed to Castillo on a Hawaii holiday vacation.
“Finding Maria has been one of God’s greatest blessings in my life, so I wanted the proposal to be as special as our love,” he told PEOPLE magazine. “We went to Maui for vacation, I told her we were gonna do a photo shoot and during the photo shoot I surprised her with the proposal! It was truly a magical moment and I can’t wait to spend a magical life with Maria!”
The couple reportedly met a year ago when Castillo’s business partner, also Franklin’s friend, introduced them to one another. The two connected over their love for fitness and since that meeting, they’ve been inseparable.
See the gorgeous engagement photos below, courtesy of People magazine.
Viola Davis and Angela Bassett are set to take on roles that are not only groundbreaking but also reflect a vision of leadership that has been historically underrepresented. Both actresses, known for their extraordinary talents and impactful performances, will portray Black women presidents in two upcoming projects: “G20” and “Zero Day.”
Viola Davis in ‘G20’ on Prime
Viola Davis stars as President Danielle Sutton in the action-packed thriller “G20,” produced by Amazon MGM Studios. Set to premiere on Prime Video on April 10, 2025, “G20” unfolds during an international summit in Cape Town, South Africa, which is suddenly besieged by terrorists. Davis’s character, a former war hero elected on a liberal ticket, must use her military acumen and diplomatic skills to protect her family, her nation, and the world leaders in attendance.
Viola Davis in ‘G20.’
This film marks a significant moment as Davis, who has already achieved EGOT status, steps into a role that showcases her as a leader and an action hero. The story emphasizes her character’s resilience and strategic thinking under duress, offering viewers a thrilling yet grounded portrayal of a Black woman navigating the highest office during a crisis. The film’s director, Patricia Riggen, praised Davis for bringing an unprecedented depth to the role, turning her into a “weapon of mass destruction” in her efforts to combat the threats at the summit.
Angela Bassett in ‘Zero Day’on Netflix
Meanwhile, Angela Bassett takes on the role of President Evelyn Mitchell in Netflix’s “Zero Day,” a series that delves into the aftermath of a catastrophic cyberattack on the United States. Scheduled to stream from February 20, 2025, the film explores themes of technology, politics, and power, with Bassett’s character navigating the complexities of leading a nation in crisis. In “Zero Day,” the Commander-In-Chief teams up with a retired president, played by Robert De Niro, to unravel the truth behind an attack that claims thousands of lives.
Robert DeNiro and Angela Basset in ‘Zero Day’. Courtesy of Netflix
Bassett, known for her powerful performances in films like “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “Black Panther,” brings a nuanced portrayal of the presidency, highlighting the challenges of leadership in a modern, tech-driven world. Her role in “Zero Day” is about commanding authority and the moral and ethical dilemmas that come with such power.