Amazon Is Developing Its Own PostCivil War Alternate-History Series Called Black America – Vulture

Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival

Amazon sees your Confederate, HBO, and might be raising you Black America, a new series in very, very active development about what America would be like today if freed slaves had been given Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabamaas reparations after the Civil War. If thats ringing bells, youve probably been following the PR problem HBO has been having with its own in-development alternate-history series, which imagines a much more Man in the High Castletype present, where the South has seceded and slavery was both kept around and turned into a modernized arm of the economy over time.

Two of the Amazon programs biggest behind-the-scenes differences are that its being made by a black creative team, and that, while Confederate already has a series order, as of now Black America still needs to go through the pilot process at Amazon in hopes of getting picked up. There is a scenario in which it might get pre-green-lit by the streaming giant say, if it landed a few big-name talents but, at this time, it will still have to compete with the other series hopefuls.

According to Deadline which broke the news about Black Americas details today this isnt a rapid-fire response to Confederate, either. The show has been in the works for more than a year, but its producer Will Packer and creator Aaron McGruder only decided to go public now with its specifics. Because of all the Confederate headlines, Packer told Deadline he wanted to make sure the creative community knew that there was a project that preexisted, and we are pretty far down the road with it. He also addressed the impact of creating a place like New Colonia, the hard-won utopia at the center of Black America. It was something that was personally intriguing for me as a black American. You would be hard pressed to find many black Americans who have not thought about the concept of reparation what would happen if reparations were actually given.

As for all the trouble around Confederate a show from the creators of Game of Thrones that brings the darkest postCivil War timeline to life Packer had a few thoughts on that, as well. The fact that there is the contemplation of contemporary slavery makes it something that I would not be a part of producing or consuming, he told Deadline. Slavery is far too real and far too painful, and we still see the manifestations of it today as a country, for me to ever view that as a form of entertainment.

The web series based on James Cordens segment is coming to Apple Music.

Ben and Susies reunion is now a Parks and Rec reunion.

From The Postman to 2012, this isnt the way the world ends.

Will Ferrell is producing a comedy with Adam McKay for the streaming service.

Senator Franken suspected it might happen when he noticed a certain vice-president missing.

See where Aubrey gets his moves from.

Jack Thorne wrote the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play.

According to Wests legal team, the company that insured his last tour is failing to pay the artists rightfully deserved loss claims.

Cosbys retrial is just three months away.

The favorite skivvies of Ansel Elgort, Emma Watson, Marion Cotillard, and Carmelo Anthony.

Sometimes to make a King of Queens reunion happen, you need a little death.

Moynihan called the last year one of his hardest and weirdly, maybe, deep down, one of my favorites.

Nice to see he has some outside projects.

Hell or High Water, The Babadook, and more.

The answer may surprise you.

Its like Strangers on a Train for Instagram.

Say hello to The Tick and Comrade Detective.

See original here:

Amazon Is Developing Its Own PostCivil War Alternate-History Series Called Black America - Vulture