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Hollywood Black, the docuseries directed by Justin Simien, had its premiere on MGM+ on August 11, 2024, with its first episode. The official synopsis of the docuseries reads:
“Chronicling the history of cinema from a radically Black perspective, this docuseries unearths personal stories from actors, writers, directors and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the camera and on the screen.”
Inspired by the 2019 book Hollywood Black: The Stars, the Films, the Filmmakers by historian Donald Bogle, the four-part docuseries revisits the history of Hollywood through a Black lens.
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Hollywood Black: Complete release schedule
The four episodes of the dosuseries are named:
- Episode 1: Built On Our Backs
- Episode 2: The Defiant Ones
- Episode 3: The Price of Admission
- Episode 4: Dear Black People
Episode 1 of the docuseries was released on Sunday, August 11, 2024, at 7 p.m. PT. The following table shows the release schedule of all four episodes of the docuseries:
The release time —and in some cases, the release date as well— will vary from one viewer to another depending on which timezone they will be watching Hollywood Black from. For general convenience, the following table shows the release date and time of Episode 2 in different timezones:
Hollywood Black: What is it about?
The first episode delves into the beginning of Hollywood in the silent era, and covers till the period to the late 1960s. During this period, Black people entered the industry for the first time, battling stereotypes and negativities. As the years passed by, they made their presence felt in Hollywood.
The second episode of the docuseries highlights the racial politics in the USA of the '60s, and shows the correspoding Black experience in Hollywood. It explores how the Black artists began asserting their identities and culture during this period.
The third episode primarily deals with the '90s, which saw the rise of several Black filmmakers and movie stars. As a result, the stories of Black people enjoyed some mainstream success. Along with this, there came up other independent endeavors that showed the lives of the non-mainstream Black communities.
The final episode of the docuseries looks at how Hollywood starts offering more opportunities to the Black artists in the 21st century. The election of Barack Obama, the first ever Black President of the USA, shows an important political shift. This episode portrays how Black lives and stories started getting more attention on screen, with some even achieving blockbuster status.
Hollywood Black: Cast and crew
The series will feature the following personalities as talking heads:
- Justin Simien
- W. Kamau Bell
- Steven Caple
- Jr., Ryan Coogler
- Ava DuVernay
- Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Issa Rae
- LaKeith Stanfield
- Gabrielle Union
- Lena Waithe
- Forest Whitaker
Directed by Justin Simien, the executive producers of the docuseries include Dave Sirulnick, Jon Kamen, Jeffrey Schwarz, and Kyle Laursen, among others.
Episode 1 of Hollywood Black is currently streaming only on MGM+.
