The Big Cigar
Genre
Based on"The Big Cigar"
by Joshuah Bearman
Developed byJim Hecht
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
Production companies
Original release
NetworkApple TV+

The Big Cigar is an upcoming American biographical drama thriller miniseries developed by Jim Hecht, based on the 2012 Playboy article of the same name by Joshuah Bearman.[1] Despite announcing that the six-episode miniseries would on Apple TV+ in 2023,[2]as of January 2024, updates on production and timing of a possible release are not available.

Premise

Chronicles the manhunt for Huey P. Newton, the founder of the Black Panther Party, who seeks the help of film producer Bert Schneider as he tries to escape to Cuba.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

No.Title [1]Directed byTeleplay by [1]Original release date
1"Panther/Producer"Don Cheadle[3]Jim HechtTBA
2"The Cuban"Don Cheadle[3]Janine Sherman Barrois & Jim HechtTBA
3"Guns & Matzah"TBALaurence Andries & Gwendolyn M. ParkerTBA
4"What Are Friends For?"TBAJanine Sherman Barrois & Jim HechtTBA
5"Lost Paradise"TBALaurence Andries & Valerie Woods & Ameer HasanTBA
6"The Pirate"TBAJim Hecht & Joshuah BearmanTBA

Production

It was announced in December 2012 that Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris were set to direct the project for Sony Pictures, at the time developed as a film, with Joshuah Bearman, author of the source article, and Jim Hecht set to write the screenplay.[4]

The project, now a miniseries, was given a greenlight from Apple TV+ in April 2022, with André Holland cast to star. Don Cheadle was announced to be directing the first two episodes in addition to executive producing.[3] In June, Tiffany Boone and Alessandro Nivola joined the cast,[5][6] with Marc Menchaca and P. J. Byrne joining the next month.[7][8] In August, Jordane Christie, Moses Ingram, Olli Haaskivi and Glynn Turman were cast to recur in the series.[9][10][11][12] Additional recurring cast including Jaime Ray Newman and Noah Emmerich was announced in September.[13]

Filming for the series began in Toronto in June 2022, as revealed by showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois.[14] By August, production was occurring throughout Hamilton, Ontario, where Hamilton City Hall was being used as a double for San Francisco International Airport.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Big Cigar". Writers Guild of America West. January 3, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (December 26, 2022). "The 10 Most Anticipated New Scripted TV Shows Coming in 2023". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c White, Peter (April 7, 2022). "André Holland Set To Star As Black Panther Boss Huey Newton In The Big Cigar For Apple From Janine Sherman Barrois, Don Cheadle, Jim Hecht & Warner Bros. TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  4. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 12, 2012). "Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris Attached To Helm Huey Newton Pic The Big Cigar". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  5. ^ Petski, Denise (June 15, 2022). "Tiffany Boone Joins Andre Holland In Apple's Huey P. Newton Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  6. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 27, 2022). "Alessandro Nivola To Co-Star With André Holland in The Apple Original Limited Series The Big Cigar". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  7. ^ Grobar, Matt (July 5, 2022). "Ozark Actor Marc Menchaca Joins Apple TV+'s The Big Cigar As Series Regular". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  8. ^ Otterson, Joe (July 6, 2022). "Apple's Huey P. Newton Series Big Cigar Casts P.J. Byrne as Steve Blauner (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  9. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 1, 2022). "The Big Cigar: Jordane Christie Joins Apple TV+'s Huey P. Newton Series As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  10. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 2, 2022). "Obi-Wan Kenobis Moses Ingram Joins Apple's Limited Series The Big Cigar As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  11. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 18, 2022). "The Big Cigar: Oppenheimers Olli Haaskivi Latest To Join Apple Series As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  12. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 19, 2022). "The Big Cigar: Emmy Winner Glynn Turman To Play Huey P. Newton's Father In Apple TV+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  13. ^ Grobar, Matt (September 1, 2022). "The Big Cigar: Jaime Ray Newman, Noah Emmerich, John Doman, Chris Brochu & Breton Edwards Allen Round Out Cast Of Apple Series In Recurring Roles". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  14. ^ Janine Sherman Barrois on Instagram: @doncheadle @nicoleburkead & #moi #toronto #thebigcigar
  15. ^ Nolan, Daniel (August 12, 2022). "Apple TV+'s The Big Cigar brings Black Panther Party's Huey P. Newton to Hamilton". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 1 September 2022.

External links

Black Panther Party
Apple TV+ original programming
Categories