Issa Rae is spearheading a “Project Greenlight” reboot at HBO Max. The Emmy-nominated “Insecure” co-creator and star is set to appear in every episode of the “reinvention” of the Miramax and HBO series as an executive producer, a press release announced.
Described as a “docuseries focusing on the next generation of talented female filmmakers who are given the chance to direct a feature film,” the new take on “Project Greenlight” will see Rae, whose exec producing credits include “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “The Photograph,” and “Insecure,” “providing guidance and mentorship to these aspiring filmmakers.”
The finished film will premiere on HBO Max.
“At HBO Max, we are committed to providing a platform for diverse, up-and-coming talent. Issa is uniquely skilled in this space, and we are thrilled to be partnering with her and Miramax as a promising group of filmmakers is inspired and challenged with their biggest opportunity yet,” said Jennifer O’Connell, executive vice president, Non-Fiction and Live-Action Family, HBO Max.
The gig seems like a great fit for Rae, who has spoken publicly about how she wants her legacy to extend beyond her own work and to elevate other voices. “For me, my longevity will be opening the door for others,” she said, mentioning Tupac’s famous remark, “I’m not saying I’m going to change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.”
One of The Hollywood Reporter’s 2021 Women in Entertainment Power 100, Rae’s packed upcoming slate includes “The Dolls,” a limited series based on real-life Christmas Eve riots caused by Cabbage Patch Kids, and “Nice White Parents,” an adaptation of the popular podcast about the influence of resourced white parents on Black and brown students within the New York public school system. She is also set to exec produce an unscripted HBO Max show about a group of Black friends in South L.A., “Sweet Life: Los Angeles.” Earlier this year the recent NAACP Image Award winner signed a five-year overall deal with WarnerMedia reportedly worth $40 million.
“Insecure” will return for its fifth and final season on HBO later this year.
