Marsai Martin continues to make her mark in Hollywood!
The 16-year old Black-ish star is set to produce a Disney Channel original series called Saturdays. Deadline reported that the network ordered a pilot episode for the series. Charles Stone III will direct and Norman Vance Jr. will be the writer-executive producer.
The comedy will star Danielle Jalade as Paris Johnson, a driven 13-year-old roller skater that grapples with sickle cell disease.
Other cast members are confirmed to play Paris’s friends and family members. Omar Gooding (from Family Time) and Golden Brooks (from Girlfriends) will play Paris’s parents, Cal and Deb. Jermaine Harris (from The Map of Tiny Perfect Things) will play her older brother.
Her best friends will be played by Daria Johns (from Nappily Ever After) and Samantha Smith. In addition, Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker will play the role of the Saturdays skating rink owner.
“When we met with Marsai about this project, we couldn’t have been more impressed with her passion for diverse storytelling and commitment to female empowerment,” said Rafael Garcia, the Vice President of Original series development at Disney Channel. “We’re extremely excited to team up with Norman and the Genius Entertainment team to tap into roller-skating culture in a way that’s truly both authentic and aspirational for our audience.”
Saturdays will be produced through Genius Entertainment, Marsai Martin’s production company in Los Angeles.
A release date for the series is yet to be announced.
Positive World Online 