Here’s a list of movies, television shows and books I’ve made over the years that will enlighten and entertain you all month long!
SIDNEY
My latest award-winning film is available on apple plus. If you haven’t seen it, I promise you will be moved and find out more about a great man no matter how much you think you know about him.
THE BLACK GODFATHER
This film documents a man that connected music, politics, and business (legal and otherwise) in a way that made so much Black history possible…and very deliberately, no one knows who he is, except for every famous person you do know about. Available on Netflix.
PHAT TUESDAY
This three-episode docuseries available on Amazon charts the rise of Black comedy from all Black comedy clubs to the mainstream of the entertainment business. See how your favorite comedians became who they are and how they changed both show business to society at large.
MILESTONE: GENERATIONS
This documentary on HBOMAX tells the story of the rise, fall, and resurrection of the first Black comic book company, Milestone Media. Usually, I’m the one telling the story, but in this one, I am one of the subjects as one of partners responsible for Static Shock, Icon, and Rocket and so many more great superheroes.
MARSHALL
I’ve always felt that Thurgood Marshall was an underrated figure in our culture, as important to our advancement as Martin Luther King or Malcolm X because he was the only one who lead the fight for justice in the courtroom. When I got to make this film, starring the late great Chadwick Boseman and the dream cast of Sterling K. Brown, Josh Gad, and Kate Hudson, it was a great experience and is Chadwick’s most popular film outside of his Black Panther appearances.
THE NAACP IMAGE AWARDS
For 11 years, I have produced the preeminent celebration of Black excellence in film, television, music, literature, and theater. This year it airs February 25th on CBS, BET and other networks.
THE BLACK MOVIE SOUNDTRACK CELEBRATION AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
I’ve done four editions of reviving great music by Black composers and artists for Black cinema at the best music venue in Los Angeles, the Hollywood Bowl. The Bowl orchestra along with an amazing array of guests artists like Earth Wind and Fire, Charlie Wilson, El DeBarge, Common, Snoop Dogg, Lalah Hathaway, Kid and Play, Pubic Enemy, Jennifer Holiday, Bebe Winans, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Warren G, En Vogue, Maya Rudolph, and so many others have performed amazing shows while awesome movie clips play. You got to feel it to believe it.
THE COMPLETE REGINALD HUDLIN BLACK PANTHER
Building on the work of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Christopher Priest, my version of BLACK PANTHER is the most popular version of the character. It’s the template for the feature films. It is also the basis of the animated series I wrote and produced. It’s available on Amazon.
MILESTONES IN HISTORY
When I was a kid I loved all kinds of comics. Marvel, DC, Gold Key, Harvey, Thunder…I read them all. But when I came across a series of Black History comics, my world was rocked. As I have worked in the industry, my determination of doing books like that has only grown. My partner Denys felt the same way so we made MILESTONES IN HISTORY, using Milestone heroes to “host” a book about some of the greatest super heroes in the real world, like Hannibal of Carthage, Kathrine Dunham, Eve, the Queen of Sheba, Alexander Dumas, Mae Jemison, Prince, and Eve, the first human on Earth.
Icon vs. Hardware – ‘Worlds Collide’ When two of the Dakotaverse’s core superheroes clash in a new five-issue limited series.
Two titans of the Milestone Universe clash — and in the process, set in motion a chain of events leading to a story bigger than you could ever imagine! When Hardware discovers a long-suppressed time machine hidden in a government warehouse, his obsession with righting the wrongs of the past — those of both American history and his own tragic family — will unravel the fabric of time for the Milestone Universe. But while there are many problems with Hardware’s plan, there’s one big one: wherever he goes in America’s last two centuries, Icon is there, having lived through it! And a man as powerful as Icon knows the profound danger of the forces Curtis Metcalf is unleashing…and he’ll do whatever it takes to put the genie back in the bottle!
Icon Vs Hardware is the official kickoff of Act One of Milestone’s WORLDS COLLIDE event—and if you think you know what that phrase means, you’d better not get overconfident! This is the ideal jumping-on point for those who’ve sat out the story of Dakota so far, because this ride is headed somewhere unexpected!
Icon vs. Hardware #1
Writers: Leon Chills and Reggie Hudlin Artist: Denys Cowan Cover: Canaan White and Chris Sotomayor Homage Cover: Denys Cowan Release Date: February 14, 2023
For more on Icon vs. Hardware, read the press release below:
Eagle-eyed DC fans that picked up Icon & Rocket: Season One and Milestones In History got the first hint that a clash between two of the Dakotaverse’s heavyweights was just a matter of time. Round one of that showdown begins on Tuesday, February 14 with Icon vs. Hardware #1, and DC’s got your first look at final covers and some great interior artwork!
To learn more about the world outside of Dakota and prepare her for her role in running the world when he returns to Terminus, Augustus Freeman, a.k.a. Icon, sends Rocket (Raquel Ervin) to an exclusive boarding school, where she meets new friends and has her “mean girls” suspicions quickly confirmed. Meanwhile, Hardware, armed with a time machine created by inventor Benjamin Banneker, plans to go back in time to prevent The Big Bang from ever happening, with absolutely no concerns about how his actions will impact the time stream. Along the way, Hardware uncovers secrets about himself and the Metcalf family, and his actions will undoubtedly put him on a collision course with Icon in the present day.
Icon Vs Hardware is the official kickoff of Act One of Milestone’s WORLDS COLLIDE event—and if you think you know what that phrase means, think again! This is the ideal jumping-on point for those who’ve sat out the story of Dakota thus far, because this ride is headed somewhere completely unexpected!
This five issue series reunites icon & Rocket: Season One co-writers Leon Chills and Reggie Hudlin, and artist and Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan, and the debut issue also features the DC debut of artist Yasmin Flores Montanez from The Milestone Initiative. Issue #1 features a main cover by Rahzzah, with the main variant cover by Canaan White and Chris Sotomayor, plus a 1 in 25 ratio variant “homage” cover by Denys Cowan.
For the latest details on DC and Milestone, visit the DC website at www.dc.com, and follow @DCComics and @thedcnation on social media. The DC UNIVERSE INFINITE digital subscription platform includes an incredible selection of DC and Milestone titles, including the original runs of Static, Static Shock, Icon, Hardware, and Blood Syndicate, plus the complete runs of Static: Season One, Icon & Rocket: Season One, and Blood Syndicate: Season One. For more information and a free trial, check out the website at www.dcuniverseinfinite.com. DC UNIVERSE INFINITE is not available in all countries and not intended for children.
In light of House Party’s induction into the National Film Registry, Reggie discusses the film’s legacy, his upcoming project with Eddie Murphy, and the state of critical race theory with Jonathan Capehart.
Every year I make a list of the top ten things that happened to me. This isn’t just a brag list; it makes me access how many good things happened in a year. It’s easy for all of us to forget, or discount, the blessings we have, whether they be personal or professional or just a wonderful moment worth remembering. Every year I’ve done it, I realized the year was a lot better than I remembered. But this year was a real revelation to me. This may be one of my best years ever.
1. MILESTONE GENERATIONS ON HBO MAX
I grew up loving comic books, they have shaped my life in many ways. They helped build up my childhood vocabulary, they expanded my imagination and political awareness. I wanted to make comic books since I was a kid…I still have my rejection letter from Marvel from when I was in elementary school.
We are developing live action feature film version of STATIC as well as animated features and television series. The process is slow, but we remain optimistic.
But the most surprising event was the production of a feature documentary of the history of the company. It’s an amazing story about a group of young Black men who started a business, made it, had it all fall apart, then got a second chance. It’s on HBOMAX and a great watch!
I’ve made documentaries, I’ve appeared as a talking head in documentaries, but this is the first time I’ve played one of the starring roles in one. It felt good to tell the story of our efforts to restore this crucial Black institution to its former glory and continue its mission
2. BLACK MOVIE SOUNDTRACK AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
After several years off because of Covid, and now working with a new team at The Hollywood Bowl, my celebration of Black Music and Black Movies is back with one of our best shows yet. So many great performances, from Bebe Winans to Johnny Gill to Kid and Play…but Jennifer Holiday brought the house DOWN!
3. THE DEBUT OF SIDNEY AT THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
I haven’t had a film of mine debut at a major film festival in a while so it felt very good to be in Toronto, ending a day of press interviews side by side with my producer Oprah Winfrey, then walk the Red Carpet, sign autographs, then enter a packed house to show SIDNEY. There was applause, laughs, tears, then more applause when the film ended.
Now the film has gone on to win Best Biographical Documentary at the Critic’s Choice Awards and named one of the top five films of the year by the African American Film Critics Association and was given a special tribute at the Gotham Awards.
4. PHAT TUESDAY
This is how crazy my year has been. I had to look up to confirm that this three-part docuseries on the rise of Black comedy into the mainstream came out this year. But when the New York Times said it was one of the best comedy events of 2022…man, that really felt great
5. HOUSE PARTY ADDED TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FILM REGISTRY
This is one of the highest honors a filmmaker can receive. Look at the other films on the list – THE GODFATHER, GOODFELLAS, STAR WARS, CITIZEN KANE, CASABLANCA, HIGH NOON, NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, SPARTACUS, SINGING IN THE RAIN, THE SHINING, THE MATRIX…the list is long and awesome. To be counted as a member of that list makes me so proud, and truly a part of this business, of this art form, that I have dedicated my life to.
6. THE 74TH EMMYS
It was a hard show to do. We (the production team) try to never repeat ourselves with the Emmys, but this third time was tricky. But we ended up making a show we liked and got a lot of love for. Ratings not there, but last year we had a football lead-in, this year we went against football. I keep getting emails from respected people in the biz who loved it.
7. THE START OF PRODUCTION FOR CANDY CANE LANE
30 years ago, Eddie Murphy and I teamed up to make BOOMERANG, which a lot of people think is one of the all-time great romantic comedies and is especially beloved in the Black community. Now we team up again to make a new movie, CANDY CANE LANE.
CANDY CANE LANE is the kind of big fantasy movie I’ve been wanting to make my whole career. The production design, the costumes, the music…I’m truly built for this. And it shoots in Los Angeles, so I get to be home with my family every night! What a blessing!
It’s also my second project for Amazon, following PHAT TUESDAY. They have been great to work with. They even asked me to cut the ribbon on their new volume soundstage, which we will be using for the film.
8. MY FAMILY
Finding the right college for your child is a nerve-wracking experience. But spending quality time with my daughter makes it all worthwhile. It’s so great to see her learn and grow through the process. I’ve learned a lot too, especially since I never toured schools when I was applying for college. I don’t know what school she will attend, but I can promise whichever school she attends will be lucky to have her.
My son Alexander is very private, which makes it hard for me to talk about his achievements. But this year he built a computer, became a very good tennis player, and made some strong art. He’s also a sensitive, empathetic person who is also great at expressing himself. 15 is a great year for him.
At 92 my mother is still active on the internet, she’s beloved by all my friends. I’m so grateful to have her.
9. MY WIFE THE MVP
People often ask me how I can be so productive. That’s because my wife is an amazing partner who works as hard as I do. Words cannot convey how amazing my wife is. She is there for me personally and professionally, is an amazing mother to our children, is a loyal supporter to her friends and cares about making this country a better place. Plus she is so very beautiful. Thank God for her.
10. NEXT
Next year is already very full for me. I’ll be shooting a major motion picture for release on Christmas of 2023. I have a new documentary in the works. There’s a series of books in the works to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Milestone Media. I have new deals for comic books, documentaries, and television shows.
I want to thank my friends and family for their love and support. I want to thank all the talented people I collaborate with for their contributions. I want to thank everyone who appreciates my work for their enthusiasm!