One of Them Days (movie):
Released on Jan. 17th, 2025 and directed by Lawrence Lamont, One of them Days is a dramatic, comedic and motivational movie starring American actor Keke Palmer and RnB artist SZA. SZA’s starpower as well as the “buddy-comedy” nature of the film drew a multitude of people towards its release. The film takes place in South Los Angeles, making it immediately reminiscent of other “comedy-duo” movies, like Friday. Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) are best friends who are also roommates, and the film follows their challenging way of facing difficulties. The two are living in a small apartment and are struggling to stay thereafter finding out that Alyssa’s boyfriend robbed them of their rent money to live his “dream.” The film showcases their struggle through a ridiculous course of events as they try to find ways to gain back the $1,500 they need for rent. They have up until 6 PM the following day to retrieve it, in order to avoid eviction and save their friendship.
Sinners (movie):
Sinners, a cinematically attractive period horror film, is releasing on April 18th, 2025. Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring American actor Micheal B. Jordan, the film is set in the 1930s US in the deep south – an era of Jim Crow laws. The main characters of the movie are two twin vampire brothers, Smoke and Stack, both played by Micheal B. Jordan as a dual role. The twins return home hoping to start anew and leave their problematic lives behind, only to find a life much more evil waiting for them at home Coogler states that there is a lot of involvement of supernatural abilities and traditions from the South in the movie, “[T]here are vampires in the film, but it’s really a lot more than that—it’s one of many elements,” Coogler said. .
Golden (movie):
Golden is an upcoming musical comedy-drama, directed by Michel Gondry, written by Martin Hynes and co-produced by American musician, music producer and songwriter, Pharrell Williams. Williams wrote the original music – an entire album – for the film. Set to be released May 9th, 2025 and based on the childhood of Williams, the movie stars both Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Halle Bailey as two lovers.. The film takes place in Virginia Beach circa 1977, the neighborhood in which Williams grew up. “The plot itself is a coming-of-age story of creativity and artistry, showcasing a life of self-discovery and the journey of self-actualization. But it’s so much more magical than that. It’s a celebration of Black life, Black culture, and most importantly, Black joy,” Williams said.
Forever (tv series):
The new Netflix tv series, Forever, is a romance drama coming out in 2025. The film stars Micheal Copper Jr. playing the role of Justin Edwards – a nerdy athlete with dreams of playing Division 1 basketball and achieving more than his already successful parents. Lovie Simone co-stars as Keisha Clark, the smart, self-assertive track star with her post-high school life plan and dreams already cut out. The two find sparks, intimacy and later first love in 2018 Los Angeles amid their social and parental issues. Reinventing Forever, the 1975 novel by Judy Blume into a TV series, the cast and crew hope to capture the romantic tension between the two young athletes as they fall harder and harder for each other. In a story of Black love and growth, Justin and Keisha learn how heavily their first love will affect them for the rest of their lives, and that love will lead them to find out who they truly are.
Great Black Hope (book):
Great Black Hope is a novel by American author Rob Franklin, set to be published this summer. The lengthy thriller has elements of mystery and crime as it tells the story of a queer African-American man, who has recently graduated from Stanford. The book covers questions of race and LGBTQ+ identity with its contemporary and literary style. The young man, Smith, goes through the mysterious death of his friend and roommate, Elle, his own possible arrest for cocaine possession and within that, faces a world of race and class in tragedy. After fleeing his hometown of Atlanta for New York City, Smith hopes to find out the truth behind the death of Elle and tries not to lose himself. His search for answers may just cost him his freedom and future.
