Life After Bridgerton: Regé Jean Page No Longer Baring it All

The Hollywood Reporter has released part one of its annual Emmy Roundtable, allowing a chance for actors to meet, for the first time, and discuss the experiences of their diverse acting careers. The first set of conversations features actors John Boyega, Jonathan Majors, Josh O’Connor, Chris Rock, and Regé-Jean Page, all experiencing new heights of their careers, and although the discussion involved many notable tales, it was Page's confirmation of why he would not be returning to season 2 of Bridgerton that was most attention-grabbing.

Although Page has only recently grabbed global recognition, he has built an impressive resume in England. And yes, Bridgerton was a groundbreaking period piece that showcased the power of diverse casting, but it’s no secret that the must-watch ingredient to the show's success was Page and his steamy sex scenes, which unfortunately isn't enough motivation to have the actor return. Once it was announced that Page would not be returning for season 2, my first thought was ’he doesn’t want to do sex scenes anymore,” and in part, that’s true. Were Page to return for a second season, he would inevitably be reduced to a sexual figure for the show, an aspect he was never prepared for. Speaking in regards to the series' sex scenes, “I wasn’t sufficiently prepared, and I was there...I think people were grateful for the intensity of the romantic aspects of Bridgerton; I’m not sure how grateful I was to watch it for myself. It was overwhelming.” With his character arc completed and the next season moving on to the next Bridgerton child in line to marry, it would not benefit the series to bring the actor back just for the sake of having him. In the meantime, Page is setting his sights on better things and bigger screens.

Fans will have their next opportunity to see him on screens as he is currently filming Dungeons & Dragons, due in theaters on November 19, 2021. Read the full article interview here.

The Historical Feat of The Old Guard and Batwoman

African American women are finally breaking into the comic-inspired movie and television genres and taking their long-awaited places at the forefront. In 2020 we finally have a comic adapted movie to be directed by a Black woman as well as the first-ever casting of a Black woman as the lead in a series based on a comic.

Netflix set another record with the release of its action-filled The Old Guard. Starring Charlize Theron, the movie is based on the comic of the same name and follows a group of immortal warriors as they initiate the newest member among them, while also trying to conceal their thousand-year hidden identities. The movie has been widely celebrated for its action sequences and was propelled to #1 on the streaming service, but still very few realize the Black girl magic involved behind the scenes and how director Gina Prince Bythewood added her signature touch. She's directed films such as Love and Basketball and Biker Boys, proving her ability to balance multiple characters while conveying strong emotions. As the first African American woman to direct a comic adapted film, this is somewhat more special as the Old Guard isn't necessarily a "black film" bypassing the common prejudicial practice of using a director of color for only "urban" projects (i.e. Black Panther).  

 

On the television front, fans of black superheroes are rejoicing as the CW has officially cast Javicia Leslie as its newest Batwoman. Following the departure of Ruby Rose, Leslie is picking up the mantle making history as the first African American Batwoman and as the lead, the first-ever comic adapted series featuring an African American woman. Leslie has previous experience from the series God Friended Me, which aired on CBS,  the same station to debut Supergirl, and will be playing the role of Ryan Wilder. Ryan is described as “likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed. A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat and also could kill you with her bare hands.” And for anyone worried about authenticity in relation to the Batwoman mythology, Leslie is a proud bisexual woman, which she expressed stating, “"I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community,” Leslie said in a statement." Her casting makes her the first-ever Black woman to lead a series based on a comic. 

The Old Guard ended with plenty of room for a sequel, and if that's the case hopefully Bythewood will be brought back on board and lighting will strike twice. As far as Batgirl What I find most exciting is the possibility of a crossover with the Arrowverse shows, especially Black Lightning, a show that has already name-dropped Gotham city. Naturally, there is no premiere date for the return of the series but it is definitely worth the wait. Both Bythewood and Leslie and pushing the boundaries previously set for Black women behind in front of the camera adding to the narrative that there's no limit to what anyone can do.

Kevin Spacey Deflects Pedophilia

Actor Anthony Rapp, besr known for his role in the original casting of the stage play Rent, has accused fellow actor Kevin Spacys of sexually assaulting him when Rapp was a 14 year old. Rapp reveals that Spacey, "picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold. But I don’t, like, squirm away initially, because I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ And then he lays down on top of me.” At the time Spacey was 26.

Unlike fellow alleged sexual predators, Harvey Winestine and Mark Halperin, Spacey was quick to respond the allegations in a way no one would have guessed. Posting to his twitter account: 

Beneath his thin veiled apology is also an excuse, and instead of assuming his responsibility in the role he blames it on drunken behavior. Even more unfortunate Spacey choose this instance to finally address his long rumoured sexuality of being gay. He is, but unfortunately he didn't get the memo that there's no correlation in pedophilia and homosexuality and many were quick to call out Spacey and his attempt to muddy the two.

Since the news first broke about Weinstein and his assault of numerous Hollywood actresses, many men and women have come forward with their personal encounters with Hollywood predators. The time is now yo hold these men accountable for what and who they are and there's no amount of drunken behavior to justify it. Looking at you Kevin Spacey. In the means time Netflix has been quick to respond to and condemn the allegations and apology with the canceling of Spaceys series House of Cards.

Black Lightning and the First Black Superhero Family

DC comics latest live-action series, Black-lightning, is set to debut next year and will finally deliver audiences an African American super hero family.

The hero debuted in his own issue in 1977, running 12 issues, before being canceled. Despite this, his popularity persisted leading to a number of team mashups, affiliations, and reincarnation series in the years to follow. Now the hero is headlining his own television series. Real name Jefferson Pierce, Black Lightning's power of spontaneously producing electricity from his body allows him to manipulate it to grant him flight and create force fields. 

Of course, what makes Jefferson so special isn't his powers but his family. Eventually, Jefferson decides to give up crime fighting to raise his two super-powered daughters Anissa and Jennifer who would grow up to become the heroes Thunder and  Lightning. Lightning takes after her father in having the ability to control lightning, but she also has the power to transform into lightning itself. Thunders' power allows her to alter her density at will, and she can send shockwaves through the ground by stomping. It should be noted that in the comics the girls don't become active heroes until after graduating college, so expect the television series to deal with their ages differently.

While it doesn't seem like a milestone even in this age of comic-inspired movies and television seeing a family of superheroes is a rarity. The former includes the Incredibles and Sky High, both featuring Caucasian families, and products of Disney. The only other preexisting African American superfamily is from the Disney channel original movie Up, Up, and Away (2000). A previous attempt at a tv series following a family with powers aired on ABC for 1 season in 2010, but that family too was not of color.

While hopes were, and still are, high for a series crossover between Black Lightning and the major Arrow-verse series chances remain slim as unlike the others Black Lightning is being filmed in Atlanta, therefore now it remains separate from the established shared universe. However, Supergirl also went through its premier season without being a part of a the Arrowverse, so there's still hoping if the pilot and season do well.

Black Lightning premiers 2018 on the CW.