Still no full trailer yet; instead, here’s a 3rd short promo for Donald Glover’s upcoming FX network series, “Atlanta,” which he’s described as “‘Twin Peaks’ with rappers.” So I’m expecting something wonderfully peculiar; at least, I’m hoping.
While FX hasn’t released a full trailer yet, I’m actually wondering whether the 3 promos that have been dropped thus far, collectively, are to tell us something about the series beyond the obvious. Maybe we’re supposed to search for clues and hints within each one that, when put together, reveal something significant.
Or maybe each promo is exactly what you see and nothing more is to be discovered…
Glover’s “Atlanta” will unfold over a 10-episode first season, each a half-hour long, and will premiere this September on FX.
Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Lee Stanfield and Zazie Beetz all join Glover in the series which revolves around two cousins on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene whose opposing views on art versus commerce, success and race, will make their quest anything but easy.
Here’s a breakdown of each character the above actors will play:
– Donald Glover will play Earnest “Earn” Marks, a loner who left Atlanta only to return; now working an unglamorous job and barely getting by. When his cousin Alfred becomes Atlanta’s hot rapper, Earn sees an opportunity to manage Alfred’s career.
– Brian Tyree Henry will play Alfred Miles, Atlanta’s hot of the moment rapper who plans to capitalize on the sudden fame as quickly as possible. Henry is currently recurring on HBO’s “Vice Principals.” He will next be seen in the feature film “Puerto Ricans in Paris.” He’s also done some theatre, including Broadway’s “Book of Mormon.”
– Lakeith Lee Stanfield will play Darius, Alfred’s oddly talented right-hand man and musical collaborator. Stanfield can currently be seen in “Dope,” and will next be seen in the features “Snowden,” “Straight Outta Compton” and “Miles Ahead,” among several others.
– Zazie Beetz will play Van, a pragmatist caught up in a complicated relationship with Earn (Donald Glover) due to their daughter. Beetz is currently shooting “Wolves” for writer/director Bart Freundlich. She has appeared will next be seen in the feature “Finding Her.”
“’Atlanta’ draws on Donald’s considerable talents as a musician, actor and writer to give us something unique,” said Nick Grad, FX president of original programming. “The story is made all the more powerful by the great cast and the contributions of Donald’s fellow executive producer, Paul Simms, and director Hiro Murai.”
Promo number 1 (released June 1), promo number 2 (released June 8), and promo 3 (released today) are all embedded below, in that order.