‘I Couldn’t Turn Down the Chance’: Jurnee Smollett and Misha Green of ‘Lovecraft Country’ Team Up for Black Canary Film
Actress Jurnee Smollett is reprising her role as the comic book character Black Canary, but this time she is teaming up with friend and fellow creative Misha Green.
The duo is developing a standalone film for HBO starring the DC Comics character who was introduced to the big screen in last year’s “Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn.” Both women shared announcements to social media that sent comic book fans into a frenzy.
Green wrote on Twitter, “We’re just at the very beginning of a loooong journey to the screen, but obvs I couldn’t turn down the chance to put the DAMN in The Black Damn Canary with @jurneesmollett! ”
On Instagram, Smollett shared a photo of herself as the Black Canary along with the following caption: “Guess the Canary is out of the cage! So excited to finally embark on this adventure with my creative soul sis @mishatrillxxl.#blackcanary #dinahlance ahhhhhhhhh!!!!! #BlackCanaryMovie.”
Last summer, Smollett said bringing the alter ego of Dinah Drake-Lance to life was a dream role. Around that same time, fan interest in seeing Smollett and Green team up for a Black Canary project also began to crop up.
“It’s no secret how much I love Black Canary. It’s a dream, character and was a dream to play her,” said Smollett. The “Birds of Prey” film amassed more than $200 million at the U.S. Box Office, leaving fans and Smollett excited about the opportunity to see Black Canary on the screen once again.
As for the possibility of working with Green again, the “Eve’s Bayou” actress was more than open to the idea. “If [the] dynamics fell in the right way, I would absolutely do it in a heartbeat, and Lord knows, I follow Misha wherever she leads me,” she said.
The actress’ willingness to follow Green’s lead goes back to 2016 when she was cast as the co-lead in WGN’s historical drama “The Underground.” The successful show ran for two seasons before being pulled from the air as WGN-TV changed up its programming. Green would again enlist Smollett’s star power for the hit HBO thriller-drama series “Lovecraft Country.” But like their previous project, the series that racked up 18 Emmy nominations was cut short to viewers’ dismay.
But with the film on the horizon, fans are pushing aside their remaining frustrations with the “Lovecraft Country’s’ lack of continued support, and instead raving about Smollett and Green getting back to work.
“Yes yes yessss!! Dream team at it againnn cannot WAIT for this magique!’
“SCREAMING!! can’t stop this dynamic duo!!! Queens about to make some MAGIC happen!!”