Inside The Atlanta Premiere For 'Little' Starring Marsai Martin, Issa Rae & Regina Hall
At just 14 years old, Black-ish star Marsai Martin is the epitome of black girl magic.
Unapologetically natural and confident, Marsai is the youngest executive producer in Hollywood. Yes, you read that correctly! Not only is she the star of the highly anticipated film Little, she's also the executive producer. Talk about boss moves!
Related: Marsai Martin Is Proof That We're Never Too Old Or Too Young To Pursue Our Wildest Dreams
Thursday night (April 4), hundreds of movie lovers gathered at Regal in Atlantic Station for the blue carpet premiere of Little. Filmed in Atlanta, the film follows the life of an overbearing tech mogul Jordan Sanders (Regina Hall). Scorned by her catastrophic childhood, Jordan has a larger than life attitude. So much so, she treats everyone including her assistant, April (Issa Rae), like trash. Jordan's life gets turned upside down when a spell turns her back into the person she tries so hard to forget -- her 13-year-old self. Now, younger Jordan (Marsai Martin) must depend on the very person she treated poorly to help her navigate life as a tween.
To walk the evening's blue carpet were Marsai Martin, Issa Rae, Regina Hall, Will Packer, Little director Tina Gordon, Star's Luke James, Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, V-103 host Jade Novah, and many more.
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationGetty Images
On the carpet, xoNecole caught up with Marsai to find out what it was like working with such beautiful, talented black women:
"It was amazing! I worked with Gina on 'Black-ish,' so we go way back. It was more of a family reunion with her and most of the people on the crew. But, with Issa, I was actually nervous. I was nervous because she's actually a creator herself. So, I was like do you like the script? But, when I started working with her the chemistry was there, and she's so chill and easy to work with."
Marsai and Issa's chemistry on-screen is simply undeniable! Together, they resemble the female version of Shawn and Marlon Wayans.
INSIDE THE ATLANTA PREMIERE OF LITTLEwww.youtube.com
Brighter than Issa's smile was the glacier sitting gracefully on her ring finger. From the success of her hit HBO show, Insecure, to landing a lead role in the upcoming film The Photograph, it's safe to say Issa is having what I like to a call a "Cardi B year".
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationGetty Images
Issa wasn't the only lady basking in her black girl magic. While most children are concerned about recess and cartoons, Marsai had her eyes on something bigger. She noticed the lack of black characters in the 1988 film Big and thought why not do a modern version, but with a majority black cast. She pitched her idea to producer Will Packer and the rest was history. Will loved the idea so much he enlisted the help of an all-black female crew to bring Marsai's vision to the big screen.
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationGetty Images
To reintegrate the importance of a black woman's perspective in Hollywood Will told xoNecole:
"First of all, it hasn't been told enough. We don't have enough black female storytellers telling their story. So, for me to be able to empower somebody like a Tina Gordon…when you think about black female directors, there are very few, and especially very few in the comedy space. So, I'm just proud to be able to left one up."
Atlanta Red Carpet Screening Of "Little" With Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Will Packer And Tina Gordon At Regal Atlantic StationGetty Images
Uplifting and funny, Little touches on themes of self-empowerment, personal evolution, bullying, and the importance of encouraging those around you. Director Tina Gordon explained to xoNecole why the theme of being authentic really resonated with her:
"People say it as something simple, but a lot of things can get in the way of you being your authentic self. So, the idea of people saying you can't do this or no one has ever done that before—in the case of Marsai. Little negative things that people say along the way sometimes changes who we really are. So, the movie just asks you to take a moment and think about if you've adjusted anything in yourself because of something someone said negatively about you and get back to being authentic."
Do your inner child a favor and be sure to catch Little in theaters everywhere April 12.
Check out some of our favorite celebs that showed up and showed out at the ATL screening by clicking through the gallery below.
Featured image by Getty Images
- Issa Rae Joining Marsai Martin in Universal's 'Little' | Hollywood ... ›
- Regina Hall, Issa Rae & Marsai Martin On Their Film, "Little" - YouTube ›
- Marsai Martin on New Movie 'Little' - Marsai Martin Youngest ... ›
- Issa Rae and Marsai Martin talk new comedy 'Little' | GMA - YouTube ›
- 'Black-Ish' Star Marsai Martin's Comedy 'Little' in Development ... ›
- Little Star Marsai Martin Is the Definition of Black Girl Magic (and the ... ›
- Marsai Martin Set to Become Youngest Producer in Hollywood History ›
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Change Is Good! A Broccoli City Festival Experience
This past weekend, the Broccoli City Festival, presented by Converse, was held at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28.
Featuring headlining megastars Gunna, Megan Thee Stallion, Victoria Monét, PartyNextDoor, and Kaytranada, along with other familiar faces such as Amaraae, Sexyy Red, Baby Tate, Tanner Adell, and Jordan Ward- the festival has continued to provide a well-curated lineup that reflects what we’ve all been adding to our playlists.
Hosts Issa Rae, who brought her brands Viarae and Sienna Naturals along for the ride, Funny Marco, Bryson Tiller, and veteran hosts Mouse Jones and Little Bacon Bear rounded out the Broccoli City appearances with even an unexpected appearance from former Migos member Offset performing collab “Prada Dem” during Gunna’s finale set.
Issa Rae at Broccoli City Festival 2024
Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Most notably, Broccoli City switched up their venue and event date after previous years at the now defunct RFK Stadium and unlucky bouts of inclement weather during their scheduled festival weekend. In 2022, my friends and I made a pit stop at Target for jackets and raincoats just to survive the weekend.
In 2023, Broccoli City went viral for a video of Coco Jones performing her song “Double Back”, a flip of SWV’s song “Rain” while it showered. A magical feeling in the moment, but short-lived as the rain continued to pour, soaking the crowd.
But this year, moving to the Audi Field Stadium was a great choice for the festival. It took a few flights of stairs and a reminder that we all can’t have Megan’s knees to access an elevated VIP experience, including reserved seating, a lounge with built-in restrooms (no port-a-potty, yay!), a food bar, a patio overlooking the secondary City Stage with a backdrop of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and the Anacostia river and an exclusive Converse activation with a free pair of Chucks to customize. And a big plus - there were areas to take cover under for everyone just in case the DMV sky changed its tune.
Megan Thee Stallion performing at Broccoli City 2024
Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
However, whether you were looking to be up close and traditional with the Field Access General Admission or sitting pretty in the newly reserved seating options - every ticket granted you a gorgeous view of the open-air field and the main stage. It was a bummer that it was harder for different ticket holders to interact with each other within the stadium due to access restrictions, whereas at most music festivals, paths cross, and new friends are found no matter how you buy in.
As expected with settling into a new space and setup, Broccoli City did experience some growing pains with setbacks and technical difficulties with an upset Kaytranada exploding into back-to-back hit songs after being informed midway through his groovy set that his time had been cut short due to a large delay earlier in the day and a looming Sunday sound ordinance to abide by.
After the Grammy award-winning producer & DJ delivered what the people came for, he exited the stage with a few more biting comments to the BC staff. There were also additional complaints from attendees scattered across social media comment sections of subpar sound and mic issues, especially during the headliner sets.
Baby Tate performing at Broccoli City Festival 2024
Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images
In previous years, Broccoli City stretched the time between sets with great activations and space to spread out before reconvening at the stage. With this new format, in-between activities were significantly reduced, which left attendees sometimes twiddling their thumbs between performance sets.
Even so, with 10 years of operation, Broccoli City is developing into a standout experience in the Live Nation Urban-powered rotation of city festivals that include Atlanta’s One Music Fest and its sister festival, the freshly minted Twogetherland in Dallas.
Overall, don’t sleep - attending Broccoli City is definitely a summer trip worth getting out the group chat.
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Feature image by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images