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Time of India
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Stephen Curry joins the cast of GOAT alongside Gabrielle Union, and Stranger Things alums David Harbour and Caleb McLaughlin
Stephen Curry (Image via Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Stephen Curry is making his first big foray into the world of acting by joining the cast of GOAT. This animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation will also see the Golden State Warriors star as a producer. While this will be his first major role in a movie, Curry has been a part of a few projects so far. His wife, Ayesha certainly knows her way around the camera, so she could give him a few pointers if it ever came to that. For now, though, we can at least expect to hear Stephen Curry as he plays his part in GOAT. Stephen Curry takes on GOAT alongside Hollywood stars Sony revealed the main cast for GOAT on Monday, June 9. NBA superstar Stephen Curry is joining the likes of Stranger Things alums David Harbour and Caleb McLaughlin- who will play the lead character of Will, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, actresses Gabrielle Union (Being Mary Jane) and Jennifer Lewis (Black-ish), comedian Patton Oswalt (The Secret Life of Pets), and writer and voice actor Nick Kroll (Sing). He has also been named as a producer for the movie, alongside Erick Peyton of Unanimous Media. The action-comedy is being directed by Tyree Dillihay, who is known for animated features like Bob's Burgers (2011), Axe Cop (2012), and Motorcity (2012). The movie is set in an all-animal world, where a little goat named Will gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the pros and play roarball. It is a fictionalized, high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo And now Will the Goat gets to join them. The cast members were announced at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 9, where Sony also screened exclusive footage from GOAT for the first time. The movie is a collaboration between Sony Pictures Animation and the NBA and is set to be released on February 13, 2026, in line with the NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, which has been set for the Feb 13 to 15 weekend. Like the basketball superstar he is, Stephen Curry hopefully will take that charisma to the big screen as well, and fans will get to see their favorite in a different light doing something completely different from his usual. Also Read: "It's extremely challenging tour to crack" - Stephen Curry Eyes New Career Options After NBA; Golden State Warriors Star Plans Next Move
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Netflix's 'Forever' Reframes Black Parenting—And It's Exactly What America Needs Right Now
FOREVER. (L to R) Karen Pittman as Dawn and Wood Harris as Eric in Episode 102 of Forever. Cr. ... More Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 For generations, television has struggled to capture the complexity of Black family life without stereotypes or moral lessons. In Netflix's new teen romance drama Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil and based on Judy Blume's 1975 novel, viewers are given something rare: not just a love story, but a layered portrait of Black parenting—loving, present, protective, and real. At first glance, Forever is about teenage love. Justin Edwards (played by Michael Cooper, Jr.) and Keisha Clark (played by Lovie Simone) are high school students navigating first crushes, emotional boundaries, and the kind of romantic intensity that feels world-altering when you're 17. But Akil's genius lies in the backdrop she builds—the homes, families, and communities that cocoon these teens in safety, expectations, and unconditional love. In an era when media depictions of Black youth still too often revolve around trauma, poverty, and systemic failure, Forever offers a radical counter-narrative: Black families where parents are not just present, but deeply invested in their children's emotional and intellectual development. This isn't aspirational fiction—it's reality for millions of Black households. The show simply turns the camera toward what has long existed, but rarely gets screen time. FOREVER. (L to R) Michael Cooper Jr. as Justin Edwards, Wood Harris as Eric, and Karen Pittman as ... More Dawn in Episode 101 of Forever. Cr. Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 'We have cops out here shooting Black boys like it's open season, and I'm tripping,' Karen Pittman said in her role as Dawn Edwards, Justin's mother, during the opening scene of the series when Justin asks to attend a house party. With Black women, many of them mothers and members of the middle class, experiencing the steepest job loss of any demographic in April of 2025, one can't help but watch Forever through the lens of the current moment. Across the country, America is witnessing mounting efforts—both legislative and economic—to dismantle public education, decimate the middle class, and hide stories that speak to Black life with nuance and dignity. From book bans to budget cuts, from anti-DEI policies to culture war campaigns, the targets may be political, but the collateral damage is generational. It's no coincidence then that Forever, already greenlit for a second season, debuted during a cultural flashpoint. When Akil—best known for Girlfriends, The Game, and Being Mary Jane—set out to adapt Blume's novel, she rooted the story in three places that shaped her creative rise: Compton, Ladera Heights, and the halls of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. FOREVER. (L to R) Assistant Director Anna Notarides and Showrunner/Executive Producer/Director (105) ... More Mara Brock Akil behind the scenes of Episode 105 of Forever. Cr. Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 But what gives Forever its pulse isn't just geography—it's what happens in Black households. 'Showcasing Los Angeles for Los Angeles—not just as a stand-in for Hollywood or Santa Monica—the series brought landmarks to the screen that upper, middle, and working-class Black families know,' said Jayar Jackson, political commentator and father to a Black son. 'Because income doesn't keep us from each other in Los Angeles.' Jackson, host of The Young Turks, recently relocated from L.A. to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, citing the region's increasingly inflated housing market. He and his wife watched Forever together—and found themselves emotionally drawn to Akil's storytelling. WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 29: Jayar Jackson attends the TYT Watchdog Correspondents' Dinner 2017 on ... More April 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo byfor The Young Turks) 'We saw our own love story in that of [Justin's parents] Dawn and Eric,' Jackson said. 'Even though it wasn't explicitly told, it was felt in the way they related to each other—and to Justin.' Jackson said he was particularly moved by the parenting dynamic between Dawn and Eric, and the emotional labor that came with raising a teenage Black boy. 'The roles of being tough and harsh on him, to then being easy and nurturing—to keep him from thinking we just don't know what he's going through,' he explained. For Jackson and his wife, both of whom are raising their son in a world that often misunderstands or stereotypes Black boys, Forever struck a nerve. Jackson said they stayed up until 1 a.m. some nights to finish the series. 'From Justin's IEP in school, to the way his basketball coach treated him, to the fact that he has a best friend named Darius,' Jackson said, 'There are so many exquisitely portrayed nuances about life as a Black family that's attentive and aware of our son's experience in this world—and how it treats him.' Simona Noce Wright, a Black mother of four and co-founder of District Motherhued—a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit serving more than 45,000 Black millennial moms— shared similar sentiments. For her, Forever was more than a series. 'It was a mirror,' she said. 'It was an all-too-real depiction of everyday life,' Wright continued. 'showcasing the true realities of Black parenting in a technology-driven society.' WASHINGTON, DC — August 10: Nikki Osei- Barrett, left, and Simona Noce Wright are founders and ... More producers of District Motherhued and Mommy en Blanc. Mommy En Blanc is a celebration of Black motherhood hosted by Simona Noce Wright and Nikki Osei-Barrett, who are the founders and producers of District Motherhued (cq) and Mommy En Blanc. The event gathers African-American mothers and their children for a picnic on the DC waterfront where families can get together for community. (photo by Andre Chung for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Wright noted that this kind of Black parental representation—rooted in nuance and emotional honesty—is still far too rare on both the big and small screens. '...This series normalizes our existence,' Wright said. 'More importantly, it allows us to see ourselves. We see ourselves in Dawn and Shelly. We see our partners in Eric. We see our sons in Justin. And we see our daughters in Keisha.' Wright said she was particularly moved by the realistic portrayal of co-parenting conflicts—especially during emotionally charged moments between Justin's parents. 'As a Black woman and mom, we are often forced to put our foot down when it comes to raising our Black boys, especially in interactions with Black girls and women,' Wright said. 'Seeing that tension and its nuances mimicked on screen was necessary and important, especially now.' 'In Forever, Eric Edwards, portrayed by Wood Harris as a successful restaurateur raising two Black boys while building a business, embodies the quiet strength and layered Black fatherhood rarely explored on screen. 'This is Daddy giving you the game. Giving you the game of life,' Harris, acting as the Edwards patriarch, said in the film.' For Wright, those moments hit close to home—and reminded her that representation isn't just about visibility, but about truth. 'These are normal dialogues in our home, and this series raises that awareness. It's an unfortunate thought to consider, yet still important for our existence as normal Black families to be depicted as we exist.' A truth too often left out of national conversations—but captured through Akil's creative lens—is that Black parents, whether college-educated or not, build fortresses of care around their children. Excellence isn't confined to test scores or income brackets; it's expressed through family dinners, firm boundaries, hard conversations, and soft landings. In Forever, parenting is far from perfect, but it is purposeful. Parents instill real-life lessons that, throughout the series, are often echoed back to them by their children in quiet 'aha moments' that reaffirm the everyday brilliance of Black parenting. The Black family has long served as a cornerstone in Black America's pursuit of power within a system built on their labor—often without fair compensation or full acknowledgment. For author, father, and Brookings Institution senior fellow Dr. Andre Perry, a series like Forever underscore the significance of the Black family with the cultural platform it deserves. 'In Forever, we're seeing something not often projected by media: Black parents who are intentional, but naturally engaged in their children's lives,' said Perry, whose book 'Black Power Scorecard' became a bestseller. 'Research shows that wealth shapes family composition in a population. However, parenting affects how children see themselves and others in the world.' While the teenage love story is compelling, what gives the show its soul is the context around that love: the quiet rituals of home. There are heartfelt conversations between mothers and sons, tensions between fathers and daughters, and moments where wisdom is passed down, often wrapped in warmth and accountability. FOREVER. (L to R) Wood Harris as Eric and Michael Cooper Jr. as Justin Edwards in Episode 105 of ... More Forever. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025 One poignant line from Mr. Edwards to Justin —'Men have to go through fire to find out who they are on the other side of the heat'—offers a blueprint for positive Black masculinity, delivered not through sermon, but by presence. These moments show how grief, joy, faith, and fear can coexist—especially within the kind of strong family structures that Dr. Perry believes are essential to addressing deep-rooted inequities. 'We have not seen what relationships can look like in Black America largely because of wealth divides in this country,' Perry said. 'However, parenting can help mitigate some of the impacts of a broken criminal justice system, underfunded schools, inadequate housing, and other social ills. Parenting can be a disruptor.' Critically, Forever doesn't ignore the world outside the home. It meets it head-on. The show acknowledges the systemic pressures bearing down on Black families—but refuses to let that define them. Instead, it insists on full human'These white folks at these private schools tell us it takes a village—until it comes to our children.,' Pittman, acting as Mrs. Edwards, said in Forever Episode 5 in reference to Keisha's transfer to another school. 'These are the years to mess up, while you still have a village around you to get you through. The village at Brookwood failed Keisha, but this family will not.' By acknowledging Black parents' strength and the systemic barriers they've long faced in Forever, Akil achieves one of art's highest callings: reframing life itself. The series shows what's possible when society stops asking Black parents to justify their existence and starts recognizing the brilliance, strategy, and endurance that has always been there. Dr. Andre Perry is a senior fellow and director of the Center for Community Uplift at the Brookings ... More Institution. While Black families—like Black people—are far from monolithic, Forever carefully paints a portrait of a family that lives in the middle, representing both the aspirations and cultural values that resonate across the Black community—no matter their ZIP code, immigration status or the number of parents residing in the household. This layered storytelling reflects a broad, shared identity that's rooted in love, accountability, and survival. For anyone who has ever dreamed big and dared to say it out loud, Forever offers something rare: the chance to see your own mother, father, auntie, or mentor reflected in its characters. It offers visibility, affirmation—and perhaps even healing. In today's America, where so much energy is spent dividing us, Forever reminds us what actually holds us together: love, care, and the sacred duty of raising the next generation. It's more than television—it's testimony.
Buzz Feed
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Mara Brock Akil's Forever Redefines Black Masculinity
Okay, let me start by saying you have another hit on your hands. I devoured this series! I instantly fell in love with Lovie Simone as Keisha Clark and Michael Cooper Jr. as Justin Edwards. Can you tell us a little bit about the audition process and how you found your Keisha and Justin? Yes, I was so excited when I saw her name in the credits. What was it like reuniting with Regina King on set, after previously working together when she directed a few episodes of Being Mary Jane? Beautifully stated. When you talk about actors with range, and I don't just mean on-screen, Regina is at the top of my list. What was that conversation like before she officially signed on to direct? You have played a pivotal role in bringing impassioned projects about Black women, love, and friendship to the small screen. The storylines are relatable, and even when they don't have a personal connection, they're effective. You typically explore the lives of adult Black women, but this time you're focus is teenage love. Tell me about that experience and any inspiration you found along the way. Speaking of the times, within the last decade or two, technology has really transformed the way we communicate with each other and what it means to connect, particularly with younger generations. Sometimes, the lines of what information should be shared online can get blurred. Phones and social media played a big part in the series. Why did you find it important to incorporate technology as an extra character in the show? Earlier, you mentioned your eldest son being your muse and chatting with Regina about your boys to help shape the vision you had for Forever. Typically, the romance genre is centered around the woman's point of view. Even romance-focused movies and books are deemed chick-flicks and chick-lit. The male perspective is rarely at the center. With Forever, we get the dual point of view from Keisha and Justin, but I feel like Justin's perspective was the main focus here. It was refreshing to see a neurodivergent Black boy openly and honestly express his feelings with his family, friends, and love interest, without being shamed. Nowadays, terms like "simp" are thrown around, which I think discourages men from being vulnerable, but Justin wasn't afraid of that. Why did you decide to go that route with Justin? I really hope so. I loved how Justin didn't allow outside influences to dictate his personality. Even when his best friend tried to deter him from getting serious with Keisha, Justin continued to follow his heart instead. I felt really proud of him in a way. Lastly, people have become more and more vocal online when it comes to fictional characters who are, or who fans believe to be white, being "swapped" with Black actors. Did you have any hesitation about getting behind this project because of that specific type of backlash? It was such an honor and pleasure to chat with Mara about Forever, because that's just how long I think this show is going to sit in my heart and mind.
Buzz Feed
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Why Forever Is Netflix's Most Addictive Teen Romance
Forever has only been on Netflix for two full days and I truly can't stop thinking about it, but more importantly, I don't want to stop thinking about it. Forever is a reimagined version of Judy Blume's controversial 1975 coming-of-age novel of the same name. The teen drama series adaptation was created by Mara Brock Akil — the same woman who brought us Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane, Love Is, and more. I mean, who better to give us a layered romance with dynamic characters?! The story is set in 2018 Los Angeles and follows highschoolers, Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.), as they navigate first love, dating woes, societal norms, and family and friends — all this as they prepare for life after high school. Meet Keisha: a driven, intelligent, and resilient high school senior with aspirations of attending Howard University on a track scholarship. She also has a closet of clothes I'd love to raid. As a standout athlete and top student, Keisha is determined to forge a successful future, despite the challenges she faces growing up in a single-parent household where her mother, Shelly (Xosha Roquemore), works tirelessly to provide for her. Keisha's haunted by a past incident that keeps interfering with her present life, despite how hard she tries to move on from it. Meet Justin: A talented basketball player, Justin is also intellectually curious, often described as "a nerd at heart disguised in an athlete's body." He is in the process of understanding his neurodivergence, specifically ADHD, which adds another layer to his journey of self-discovery. He's also refreshingly honest and in-tune with his emotions. Justin is the son of affluent parents—his mother, Dawn (Karen Pittman), a Harvard-educated executive, and his father, Eric (Wood Harris), a successful restaurateur. Despite his privileged upbringing, Justin grapples with the pressures of high expectations and the desire to forge his own path. Keisha and Justin reunite after randomly seeing each other at a party. It's the first time they've seen each other in person since they were kids, and what blossoms between them after that reunion is a wild, heartfelt tale of young love and the roadblocks that come along the way. Lovie and Michael were the perfect choices to bring these characters to life on screen. I can't applaud their performances enough. I'm 34 years old and going on this teen journey had me in my feelings, reminiscing about my younger years, and how heightened my emotions were dealing with relationships for the first time. This show encapsulated it perfectly. What also makes this series so special is the way the viewer is brought into their entire world. You not only connect with the protagonists, but you also form a bond with the parents... ...and friends who play a big part in Justin and Keisha's lives (again, perfect casting for everyone involved). I was hooked from the very first episode, and I'm already plotting on my next rewatch. But I'm not the only one who fell head over heels for Forever. Here's what people online are saying: Have you watched Forever yet? If so, pleaseeeee share your thoughts in the comments so we can talk about it!
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gabrielle Union says surrogacy felt like public humiliation: ‘Like a cuckold'
Actress Gabrielle Union opens up about her motherhood journey, surrogacy, and more with a vulnerability and transparency that may inspire others to feel less alone. Gabrielle Union is getting real about surrogacy. The 52-year-old actress and mother opened up about the complexity of surrogacy while discussing her motherhood journey in a recent profile for Marie Claire magazine's first-ever motherhood issue. When the 'Perfect Find' star was ready to expand her family with her husband, former NBA player Dwyane Wade, she ultimately had to go the surrogacy route to conceive her six-year-old daughter, Kaavia. 'For me, it felt like failure,' she said. 'My body failed. It just felt like such a f— public humiliation. Surrogacy felt like a cuckold; watching somebody do something I can't do. To be there for somebody else succeeding where I failed—it is a mind f— for people who have had my journey and who feel similarly. When it's never been your reality, I get the urge to judge and cast aspersions because we all want whatever route we took to be the 'right' way.' Union, who has one biological child with Wade and is stepmother to his other three children from previous relationships, said she's still not quite over the emotional toll of the experience. 'I'll never have peace with it, ever,' the 'Being Mary Jane' alum admitted. 'And that's not a what-anybody-has-to-say thing; that's just—my yearning has never dissipated. I was so ready for my surprise, but all the prayers that didn't get answered in the way that I thought made me more conscientious that my child is here.' She mused, 'Did I want the public applause and attention that come with being a public pregnant person? Because your baby is here. Your child is here. Healthy. Amazing.' Regardless, the actress said she is 'grateful' to her surrogate. 'I'm very grateful to our gestational caregiver, though. It's just one of those things where it's such a personal journey that I may never know full peace with the coulda, woulda, shouldas,' she noted. She also said people can be judgmental of her less-than-rosy feelings on the topic. 'Because it's different and because every single person's surrogacy journey is different,' she said. 'It's like any time there's any kind of variance in the experience, it's, 'See, I told you. You shouldn't explore this option to expand your family.'' Union and Wade's blended family includes their daughter Kaavia; two children Wade shares with ex-wife Siovaughn Funches, Zaire, 23, and Zaya, 17, and a son he shares with Aja Metoyer, Xavier, 11. Wade is also the legal guardian of his nephew, Dahveon Morris, 21, and Union's little sister has been living with the family for the last five years. The busy jet-setting actress who just appeared alongside her husband on the 2025 Met Gala's blue carpet in New York on Monday has, over the years, credited a very locked-in village for how she and Wade make it all work. While speaking to Scary Mommy in 202, Union said, 'I depend heavy, heavy, heavy on our village: my sisters, my niece, my mom, my husband's mom. My mom at 60 adopted three children. They're other family members, but they're now my siblings/cousins, we call them the Unions 2.0. It's all hands on deck.' In the Marie Claire profile, she reiterated her thoughts around her village. 'I don't think we're supposed to be equipped to do this on our own. You know what I mean?' she said. More must-reads: Pope Leo XIV's roots reach back to New Orleans…and they're Black SWAC defeats $150M lawsuit from Urban Edge Network over media rights to HBCU athletic games Daughter says mom 'gave me life twice' with kidney donation as pair graduate nursing school together
