Gabrielle Union, under her I’ll Have Another production banner, has optioned George M. Johnson’s memoir, All Boys Aren’t Blue. It would be set at Sony Pictures Television, where I’ll Have Another has a first-look deal.
Here’s the description of Johnson’s memoir, which came out in April:
In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.
Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren’t Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson’s emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.
“I wrote this memoir and shared these stories because of the importance and need to center black stories from the black perspective. I didn’t have stories like these growing up and honestly I don’t have many now so I knew I needed to do my part to make sure the next generation of black queer children had something they could relate to and connect with. There are days I look at TV and film and still don’t see myself represented. So, my ultimate goal was providing the story I didn’t have but always needed and to be the vessel so that so many can feel seen and heard,” Johnson said in a statement to Deadline, which first broke this news. On Union, he added, “She’s someone who is not only a champion in the fight for supporting marginalized communities of color but the work she’s doing as a storyteller and producer is lifting every voice who hasn’t had the opportunity to be heard.”
Union said, “Queer black existence has been here forever yet rarely has that experience been shown in literature or film and television,” Union said. “Being a parent to a queer-identifying daughter has given me the platform to make sure that these stories are being told in a truthful and authentic way and George’s memoir gives you the blueprint for that and more. What I love about this book is that it not only offers a space for queer kids of color to be seen and heard but it also offers those who see themselves outside of that standpoint to be held accountable and help them better understand what it takes to truly have acceptance with someone who is considered other.”
Union and I’ll Have Another have many projects in several stages of development at Apple, HBO Max, Quibi and more. She stars in Spectrum Originals’ L.A.’s Finest. The second season debuts later this fall via the cable provider and the first season will make its broadcast debut on Fox later this year as well.
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Photo: Getty/Farrar, Straus and Giroux
