Based on the book Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement by Devery S. Anderson, and Mamie Till-Mobley’s autobiography, Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America, ABC is finally premiering their new Women of the Movement series. The series is produced by Jay-Z Jay-Z for Roc Nation, Will Smith for Overbrook Entertainment and Aaron Kaplan for Kapital Entertainment. It was originally supposed to be developed for HBO in 2016 when it was supposed to be the story of Emmett Till. The series was moved to ABC and the focus became Till’s mother and other women of the Civil Rights movement.
The Women of the Movement series is executive produced and written by Marissa Jo Cerar, whose writing credits include 13 Reasons Why and The Handmaid’s Tale. The first episode of the series is directed Gina Prince-Bythewood who directed and wrote Love & Basketball, and created the series “Shots Fired.”
The first season of the anthology series will feature just 6 hour-long episodes and premieres on Thursday January 6th at 8:00pm with two episodes. Watch the trailer for the series below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bet6S1QFeeg
The anthology series focuses on the short life of Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till-Mobley. After her son’s death Mamie became a civil rights activist that went on a speaking tour with the NAACP. Till was murdered after going to Money, Mississippi for just one week to spend some time with his cousins. Mamie spent almost a half a year’s salary to get Emmett’s body from Mississippi to Chicago for the open casket funeral. The series transitions to the Emmett Till trial over the last four episodes of the series.
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Cast of Women of The Movement series
Cedric Joe stars as Emmett Till and Adrienne Warren stars at Mamie Till-Mobley.
Cedric Joe
Emmett Till
Cedric, who also goes by CJ began acting after winning a Baby Gap contest contest at the age of 5. He has done theater, starred in Space Jam A New Legacy, and has been featured on several television shows including, “Good Trouble,” and “Modern Family.” He turns 17 in March 2022.
Cedric was born in Chicago.
Adrienne Warren
Mamie Till-Mobley
Adrienne Warren is a Tony Award winning actress for her role as Tina Turn in the Tina Turner musical. She’s starred in 5 television pilots but this is her first lead role in a series. In addition to the Tina Turner musical she starred in Broadway’s Shuffle Along and Bring It On.
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The cast also features:
Tonya Pinkins as Alma Carthan, Mamie’s mother
Glynn Turman as Mose Wright
Ray Fisher as Gene Mobley
Chris Coy as J. W. Milam
Julia McDermott as Carolyn Bryant
Carter Jenkins as Roy Bryant
Gary Basaraba as Sheriff Clarence Strider
Images provided by ABC
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