Boots Riley’s inventive coming-of-age comedy series I’m A Virgo has released a sneak peek of star Jharrel Jerome’s larger-than-life character trying to be incognito in a world much smaller than him. The series premieres on Prime Video June 23.
According to Prime Video, Riley has written and directed all seven episodes, with Jerome executive producing. The series follows Cootie (Jerome), a humongous Black man in California who goes through all the regular growing pains of a normal person, but everything’s exaggerated because he’s an anomaly. He tries to also emulate his idol (Walton Goggins) along his journey of self-discovery.
According to the official description:
I’m A Virgo is a darkly comedic fantastical coming-of-age joyride about Cootie (Jerome), a 13-foot-tall young Black man in Oakland, California. Having grown up hidden away, passing time on a diet of comic books and TV shows, he escapes to experience the beauty and contradictions of the real world. He forms friendships, finds love, navigates awkward situations, and encounters his idol, the real-life superhero named The Hero, played by Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight, The Righteous Gemstones). I’m A Virgo is a mythical odyssey that questions the purpose of the mythical odyssey.
The series also stars Brett Gray, Kara Young, Allius Barnes, Olivia Washington, Mike Epps and Carmen Ejogo. Music for the series is created by art pop duo Tune-Yards.
Riley and Tze Chun serve as co-showrunners and executive producers with Media Res Studio’s Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer. Rebecca Rivo also executive produces.