Director Reginald Hudlin, (‘House Party,’ ‘Boomerang,’ ‘Marshall’) discusses his new Disney movie ‘Safety’ out on streaming now. Hudlin is a screenwriter, director, producer, media executive and comic-book writer. He was the former President of Entertainment for BET, has written numerous graphic novels, co-produced the 2016 Academy Awards as well as the Emmys. He also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture as a producer for Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. He talks about telling Black stories at Disney, what he believes are the key reasons why Latinx stories aren’t breaking through in Hollywood, and if the comic book industry can reinvent themselves through diversity.
By RUSS BURLINGAME – December 12, 2020 10:05 am EST Comicbook.com
During DC FanDome earlier this year, the publisher released the first new comics from Milestone in years. The publishing imprint, launched in the ’90s by a number of Black comic book writers and artists, lasted only a short time before folding, with its characters largely absent from parent company DC’s publishing line since. the course of the 25 years or so since the end of Milestone, there were several efforts to revitalize the brand or bring some of the characters into DC’s shared universe, but all have been abortive and short-lived until very recently, with a new release, more scheduled, and news on a Static Shock movie.
During a recent interview in support of Safety, his new football drama for Disney+, filmmaker and comic book writer Reginald Hudlin told ComicBook.com that the new-look Milestone is going to be more than just one or two projects — and more than just Static Shock.
“I thought the guys were prescient when they named the company Milestone Media,” Hudlin told ComicBook.com. “Denys [Cowan] and I have both worked in multiple mediums, in television and so on. And we’re doing something that’s never been done before: we are creators who are experienced in comics and movies and television, and we’re shepherding the projects in multiple platforms simultaneously. So there’s gonna be comics, and there’s gonna be movies, and there’s gonna be TV shows. Yes, of course, everyone’s focused on Static – and they should be, because he’s a great character, but there’s a lot of great characters in the Milestone universe, both old ones and new ones we’re going to be creating. Over the course of the next couple of years, we’re going to be rolling out a lot of exciting projects coming out of Milestone.”
Milestone’s most recent revival was announced in 2015 at Comic Con International in San Diego. After several false starts and a numebr of regime changes on DC’s publishing side, they officially announced that the line would be returning with a one-shot, released digitally during FanDome, and more comics coming in the spring.
While he’s thrilled to have found Disney+ to work on Safety with, and he’s happy to be back in the geek space, Hudlin says it’s unlikely he will return to one of his most-loved TV projects: the animated Black Panther series, anytime soon.
“You know what? I did that before they were Disney, and they’ve got a grand vision and they’re doing their thing which is awesome,” Hudlin said. “I’m a big fan of what they do, and I can’t wait to do what I do.”
You’ve seen Remember the Titans, The Blind Side, Friday Night Lights, and now, you have to see Safety.
Even if you are not a sports fan, or more specifically, a football fan, everyone must see Disney+’s latest original film, Safety, which is based on a true story. The movie is the perfect balance of tears and laughs as it tells the true story of Clemson University football safety, Ray McElrathbey, who is a young man facing a series of challenging circumstances. With his dedication and perseverance, alongside his teammates and the Clemson community, he overcomes and triumphs these challenges and succeeds on the field while also having to suddenly raise and care for his 11-year-old brother, Fahmarr.
Credit:Disney
This film really portrays the story of inspiration and dedication, but it also shows how we need to be there for one another when your loved ones need you most, and that’s what the cast and crew really loved about this movie from the start.
During the media event for Safety, which Inside the Magic attended, some of the cast of the film, as well as the Director, Producer, and Ray McElrathbey himself, discussed how this film is more than just another football movie — It’s a movie about relationships, teammates and being there for one another when they need you most.
Credit: Disney
And the most important aspect — Sometimes your support system doesn’t have to come from your direct family. It can come from people such as neighbors, friends, roommates, teammates, etc. In fact, Corinne Foxx, who portrays Kayycee in the film, touched upon how those who really came through for Ray were those non-blood relatives. “And-and we-we’ve said this before that, um, family isn’t just blood relation, you know, and I think that’s what this movie is about.,” Foxx stated during the media event as she was discussing what really stood out to her about the film. “There are all these people in Ray’s life that are rooting for him that aren’t necessarily blood relation but are there for him in that way. And-and Kaycee kind of acts as a big sister to even, um, Fah and Daniel and everyone else is-is kind of just all working together to-to be there for Ray.”
In addition, Ray-Ray McElrathbey himself touched upon how, especially in today’s world, we all need to come together and support one another — Blood relatives or not. “Um, as far as teams are concerned in society, I guess we go back to the-the two teams that mean the most at this current time which is the Democratic and Republican Party,” McElrathbey said during the press event. “ Um, and the importance of it in society is that currently those teams needs to come together as the United States of America and do something for everyone in America.”
Credit : Disney
“So to-to bring the importance of team to society, uh, the world needs help. Um, most of all, America needs help. And I hope them-those two teams get together and do it for the team that we are together, which is America. And so in-in society, I think that’s the important part of sport that needs to be taken part, where working together is needed and necessary,” McElrathbey continued.
So again, this film is so much more than just another football movie — It’s a movie that showcases a real-life situation and how we all need to be there for one another, no matter what. We need to come together to support one another. Allow yourself to trust those around you. Allow your support system to help you when you need it. Have one another’s backs and be there for each other, especially in today’s world.
You can watch the official trailer for Safety here:
