News

Hulu’s drama The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Edward Kelsey Moore, is a heartfelt period piece reminiscent of other classic ensembles such as Waiting to Exhale or Steel Magnolias. The film follows three best friends, Odette (Aunjanue Ellis and Kyanna Simone), Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan and Tati Gabrielle) and Clarice (Uzo Aduba and Abigail Achiri), known as “The Supremes” because of how close the women are since their youth, who, for over four decades, face the difficulties of love, marriage, loss, grief and occasional joys that life has to offer. When a sudden illness and devastating heartbreak threaten to break the bonds of their friendship, they must figure out a way to survive the new storm with love and courage.

Here, Simone talks to Deadline about being fearlessly Black in Hollywood, portraying stellar actresses and stepping into her role as Odette.

Uzo Aduba was at the Friday night premiere of Searchlight Pictures’ “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” in Los Angeles fresh from attending the Democratic National Convention.

She told Variety watching Vice President Kamala Harris accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for the presidency felt like “an outstanding check had finally been paid on the American dream.”

“It felt like the promise of America is still reaching toward fulfilling itself, and I think it makes me excited to know that the country, despite what we have seen in time, is still reaching forward toward becoming a more hopeful and more inclusive nation,” Aduba said.

“The Supremes” tells the multi-generational story of three best friends and their unbreakable sisterhood. Aduba plays Clarice Baker, who she describes as a “woman who has given everything she has for everyone else, selflessly putting aside her own dreams to see others live out theirs.”

“She’s...

The film portrays the undying friendship between three Black women through the joys and sorrows of life. Strong performances by the ensemble cast add depth to the emotional narrative of friendship and support, which helps us forget about the movie's empty supporting characters and weak attempts at humor. Despite some Lifetime Movie-style moments, the film's heartwarming portrayal of enduring friendship shines through all the melodrama.

The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat chronicles decades of friendship between three very different Black women. The narrative jumps back and forth from their teenage years to the turn of the 21st century with laughter, tragedy, and crises galore blended like a malted milkshake. A tear or two may be shed as the film pours melodrama on thick in a Lifetime movie of the week fashion, which doesn't help the long runtime, intermittent pacing, and cookie-cutter supporting characters. That said, both leading ensembles are endearing and...

To celebrate the release of The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, which debuts on Disney+ and Hulu this week, we had the pleasure of chatting with some of the cast about this moving and poignant comedy-drama based on the best-selling book of the same name.

The movie follows lifelong best friends Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan), and Clarice (Uzo Aduba) known as “The Supremes”, who share the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood from decades of weathering life’s storms. Through the joys and sorrows of life, marriage, and children, happiness and blues, love and loss, new shades of heartbreak and illness threaten to stir up the past when the trio sees their bond put to the test as they face their most challenging times yet.

Chatting to the incredible cast – including Oscar Nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Odette), Sanaa Lathan (Barbara Jean), Russell Hornsby (Richmond Baker), Mehki Phifer (James Hornsby), and Kyanna Simone...

Okay all you music biopic fans, just keep reading the title past the first two words. This should give you a hint that it’s not the “rags to riches” tale of the 60s talented titanic trio from Motown. Actually, this story is set quite a distance from Detroit. way down in North Carolina. And yes, much of the flashback sequences are set in the 1960s, but the title refers to a nickname given to three childhood friends. And if you’d guess that the ploy revolves around their “ups and downs”, romances and challenges, well you’re perhaps familiar with the novel this film is based upon…or you picked up the gist of it from the poster. So, get those tissues ready to wipe away the tears inspired by The Supremes At Earl’S All-you-can-eat.

After a brief flash-forward, the film focused on three middle-aged women strolling toward the aforementioned eatery.

Tina Mabry’s The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat shares the story of Odette, Clarice and Barbara Jean, three lifelong friends united through every challenge life brings. From escaping troubled homes as teenagers in 1960s Indiana, the women lean on each other through everything from heartbreak and loss to health scares.

Directed by Tina Mabry from a script co-written with Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film explores the power of their bond over decades. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor plays the outspoken Odette, with Uzo Aduba as pianist Clarice and Sanaa Lathan portraying Barbara Jean. Younger versions are acted by Kyanna Simone, Abigail Achiri, and Tati Gabrielle.

At its heart, the film celebrates the solace women can take in sisterhood when facing adversity. From their antics as youth to familial roles as adults, the Supremes lean on each other and local haven Earl’s Diner. Their friendship proves a source of fun, comfort, and strength,...

When the script for “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” landed on Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor’s desk, she jumped at the opportunity to star in the historical drama. Despite a three-decade-long career, it’s a rarity for Ellis-Taylor to find herself cast in projects that pass the Bechdel test. “The Supremes,” which debuted at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (Mvaaff) on Wednesday night, is based on the best-selling novel by Edward Kelsey Moore. Directed by Tina Mabry, the film offered Ellis-Taylor and her castmates, Sanaa Lathan and Uzo Aduba, the chance to participate in something rarely seen on screen.

“There is a lack of curiosity about Black women, about the lives of Black women. A lack of interest, and a lack of care,” Ellis-Taylor says, sitting down with Variety at the festival. “[The Supremes]” is a rebellion against that.”

Set in a small southern town, the film follows lifelong friends Odette...

As so much media loves to remind us, life is not our hardships but the friends we’ve made along the way. Edward Kelsey Moore’s novel The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat is a charming examination of that maxim, balancing humor and heartbreak so as to reaffirm the value of keeping on.

Searchlight Pictures has announced that its drama The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, starring Uzo Aduba, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Sanaa Lathan, will be available to stream exclusively on Hulu on August 23.

Based on the 2013 New York Times bestselling novel by Edward Kelsey Moore, the film directed by Tina Mabry tells the story of three best friends dubbed “The Supremes” who have weathered life’s storms together for two generations, through marriage and children, happiness and the blues, watching as they find themselves at a crossroad that tests their lifelong bond.

Pic also stars Russell Hornsby and Mekhi Phifer, as well as Kyanna Simone, Tati Gabrielle, Abigail Achiri, Julian McMahon, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Tony Winters, Dijon Means, Xavier Mills, Cleveland Berto and Ryan Paynter. Cee Marcellus adapted the screenplay, with revisions by Mabry, with Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen’s Temple Hill Entertainment producing.

Most recently, Searchlight released Laura Chinn’s Sundance drama Suncoast,...

Exclusive: Searchlight Pictures has wrapped production on The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, announcing that Dijon Means (P-Valley), Xavier Mills (Interview with the Vampire), Cleveland Berto (Terminator: Dark Fate) and Ryan Paynter (Dopesick) will round out the cast.

The upcoming film directed by Tina Mabry is based on the 2013 New York Times bestselling novel by Edward Kelsey Moore. It tells the story of three best friends dubbed “The Supremes” who have weathered life’s storms together for two generations, through marriage and children, happiness and the blues, watching as they find themselves at a crossroad that tests their lifelong bond.

Details as to the new cast members’ roles haven’t been disclosed. But the film’s ensemble also includes Russell Hornsby and Mekhi Phifer, as well as Kyanna Simone, Tati Gabrielle, Abigail Achiri, Julian McMahon, Vondie Curtis-Hall and Tony Winters. Gina Prince-Bythewood adapted the screenplay,...

Tina Mabry’s “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” has rounded out its cast with the addition of Kyanna Simone (“American Horror Stories”), Tati Gabrielle (“You”), Abigail Achiri (“The Underground Railroad”), Julian McMahon, Vondie Curtis-Hall (“Blue Bayou”) and Tony Winters (“National Champions”) as Big Earl.

Uzo Aduba, Aunjanue Ellis and Sanaa Lathan lead the movie, based on Edward Kelsey Moore’s 2013 bestselling novel, playing best friends affectionally dubbed “The Supremes.” According to the film’s synopsis, the trio — Clarice, Odette and Barbara Jean — “have weathered life’s storms together for two generations through marriage and children, happiness and the blues,” and they “find their paths at a crossroads that test their lifelong bond.” Simone, Gabrielle and Achiri will play younger versions of Ellis, Lathan and Aduba’s characters, respectively.

Russell Hornsby and Mekhi Phifer also star in the Searchlight Pictures movie, which has begun principal photography in North Carolina.

In...

“There are cracks that are forming in Mabel,” says Sheila Atim about her character’s arc in the closing hour of Berry Jenkins‘ 10-episode limited series “The Underground Railroad,” which is based on Colson Whitehead‘s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. In our exclusive video interview (watch above), Atim talks through her character’s role as a midwife on the plantation, the “crux” of her story and the honor of being able to lend a voice to her untold story.

The show follows Cora (Thuso Mbedu), an enslaved girl who makes a bid for freedom from slaveholding Georgia in 1800s America and, in turn, takes possession of her personhood. Atim plays Cora’s mother, Mabel, who was born into slavery on the Randall plantation and is said to have abandoned her daughter when the latter was 10 years old. In the show’s final episode, named after Atim’s character,...