REGINA KING: WATCH ME NOW
The Emmy Winner Directs Her First Film
You never know who will win an Emmy in a given year, but for the virtual broadcast of the 2020 awards ceremony, everyone knew Regina King would give a speech. Her role in HBO’s Watchmen was undoubtedly the best for a Lead Actress in a Limited Series. The win marked her fourth Primetime Emmy Award — a record for any Black performer.
When she appeared on screen, it was clear she was sending a message. Nights before Louisville issued a decision in the Breonna Taylor investigation, King donned a black “Say Her Name” shirt with Breonna’s face on it. After she thanked her Watchmen crew, she also asked for a call to action for everyone watching at home.
“Oh, you gotta vote. I would be remiss not to mention that being part of a show as prescient as Watchmen. … It is very important. Be a good human. Rest in power, RBG. Thank you.”
Watchmen was nominated for 26 Emmys and took home 11. Though there won’t be a second season of the superhero show, we will see more of Regina King — just not in the way you might expect.
King makes her directorial debut for a feature film with One Night In Miami. (She directed the 2014 documentary Story of a Village and several TV show episodes.) The film is a fictional account of Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) meeting in Miami to discuss getting involved in the Civil Rights Movement. It is based on a play of the same name by Kemp Powers, who also penned the screenplay. Amazon Studios will distribute the project.
Though this year’s film slate is sparse, King’s movie is already getting awards buzz. Perhaps a Best Director nomination is in her future.
King won’t stay behind the camera, though. She will star in the Netflix film The Harder They Fall, which boasts a top-tier, all-Black cast. Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, and Lakeith Stanfield are all signed on for the thriller with a soundtrack from Jay-Z.
With much to celebrate, we can’t wait to watch Regina King again on our screens.
