Issa Rae Gearing Up To Release ‘At Least Two New Projects’ She’s Developing For HBO Following ‘Rap Sh!t’ Cancellation
Issa Rae can’t stop, won’t stop!
According to her latest interview, celebrated TV mogul Issa Rae is currently in the process of bringing fresh projects to the famed network HBO.
Issa Rae
As previously reported, last month, Issa Rae’s thriving comedy series ‘Rap Sh!t’ was canceled after merely two seasons.
The HBO Max-introduced production follows two best friends in Miami, FL (portrayed by actress/writer Aida Osman and real-life rapper KaMillion) who are chasing success in the music industry.
However, although adversities have risen in Rae’s uber-successful career, that hasn’t halted her from moving forward with her mission to represent urban communities and the stories that derive from them.
The ‘Insecure’ creator is developing “at least two new projects” for HBO. One is set in an “alternative present,” which Rae will reportedly create, write, and star in. And, the other is a satire based on corporate America, which is in partnership with ‘South Side’ originators Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin.
While details are limited there, she didn’t hold back when addressing her thoughts on the current state of Hollywood and the erasure of mainstream Black creativity. Rae offered,
“There is a bitterness of just like, who suffers from you guys pulling back? People of color always do.”
Issa Rae
She added later in the discussion:
“I’m sorry, but there aren’t a lot of smart executives anymore. And a lot of them have aged out and are holding on to their positions and refusing to let young blood get in.”
Rae furthered,
“Now, these conglomerate leaders are also making the decisions about Hollywood. Y’all aren’t creative people. Stick to the money. The people [who] are taking chances are platforms like TikTok. That’s what’s getting the eyeballs of the youth. So, you’re killing your own industry.”
Issa Rae, ‘Rap Sh!t’ stars KaMillion & Aida Osman
The Stanford grad said in another part of the conversation:
“When you have all of these streaming services that are competing with each other, it means they’re also moving the goalposts of what success looks like and what their brand is. It’s all mush. I know what my brand identity is and what I want to make. But if that doesn’t align with who’s paying me to make stuff, then that’s complex. We are malleable, but only to an extent.”
This isn’t the first time the 39-year-old has made headlines for speaking about Hollywood leaders and the mass removal of Black shows in her genre of work. She previously told an outlet,
“You’re seeing so many Black shows get canceled, you’re seeing so many executives–especially on the DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] side–get banned. You’re seeing very clearly now that our stories are less of a priority.”
Rae expanded:
“I am pessimistic because there’s no one holding anybody accountable. And I can, sure, but also at what cost? I can’t force you to make my stuff. It’s made me take more steps to try to be independent down the line if I have to.”
Issa Rae
It’s good to see that Ms. Rae is continuing to beat the odds–on and off the screen!
We’re excited to see what she has up her sleeve this time around.
Will you be tuning in? Let us know in the comments below!