Filed under: News
Black Voices has exclusively learned that Diahann Carroll and S. Epatha Merkerson have been added to the cast of the 34th Street Films comedy 'We the Peeples.'
Written and directed by Tina Gordon Chism, the film stars Kerry Washington, Craig Robinson, and David Alan Grier.
The story follows what happens when a child psychologist (Robinson) surprises his girlfriend (Washington) by showing up at her political family's annual get-together at their Sag Harbor vacation home only to find them desperately in need of therapy.
Merkerson and Grier will play Washington's parents, while Carroll is the grandmother in the film.
For Carroll, 'Peeples' marks her first film on the big screen since she had a role in 'Eve's Bayou' back in 1997. A veteran of many TV series, including her recent casting in USA Newtork's series 'White Collar.' the Bronx, New York native is best known for her title role in the 1968 television series 'Julia,' which made her the first African American actress to star in her own television series where she did not play a domestic worker. In 1974, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the title film, 'Claudine.'
Merkerson recently ended her role, after 17 seasons, as NYPD Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on the long-running television crime drama 'Law & Order' when the series was cancelled. A veteran of many theater productions, including the revival of 'Come Back, Little Sheba,' the Michigan state native was seen earlier this year in the big screen in 'Mother and Child' with Kerry Washington.
34th Street's Matt Moore is producing the film along with Tyler Perry Studios President Ozzie Areu, Paul Hall and Stephanie Allain, who produced 'Hustle and Flow' and 'Something New.'