It’s starting to look like Marsai Martin may be a mogul in the making. Best known for playing Diane, AKA Dolly, on “Black-ish,” the actress is set to co-star with “Insecure’s” Issa Rae and “Girls Trip’s” Regina Hall in “Little,” a Universal comedy — based on an original idea from Martin — set to bow this spring. Now word comes that the 14-year-old and her Genius Productions company have signed a first-look production deal with Universal. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news.
Martin is making history as “the youngest person to get a first-look deal at Universal, and the youngest person to get a deal at any studio in recent memory,” the source reports.
The first project under the pact, which sees her developing scripted projects for Universal, will be “Stepmother.” The comedy centers on a teen (Martin) “who is adjusting to life with a new stepmother and has to learn that sometimes the only way to tame a monster is to make peace with it (especially if the monster is you).”
“Working with emerging talent is a cornerstone of Universal’s overall slate strategy, and Marsai is a star on the rise,” said Peter Cramer, president, Universal Pictures. “She is not only tremendously talented in front of the camera but offers a unique perspective as a creator and producer that will resonate with all audiences. We look forward to moviegoers getting to see how brilliant she is in ‘Little’ and watching her evolve as a filmmaker here at Universal.”
Martin added, “I am so excited for the magic I’ll be able to create and produce with Universal. Mr. Cramer and Ms. [Donna] Langley’s commitment to investing in and uplifting diverse and young voices is both refreshing and important, and I’m happy to be a part of that legacy. My goal is to show young women and girls that our voices and ideas matter and you are never too young to dream big!”
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Fun Mom Dinner” are among Martin’s other acting credits. Already a trailblazer, she became the youngest person to ever executive produce a studio film with “Little.” She plays a younger version of Hall in the pic, which tells the story of a tech maven who transforms into her childhood self when her adult responsibilities become too much to handle. Rae co-stars. Directed by Tina Gordon (“Peeples”), the film hits theaters April 12.
