STARZ announced today it is in development on “Book of Marlon,” a comedy inspired by actor-comedian Marlon Wayans’ life and career. Wayans will portray himself in the lead role and will also co-write and executive produce.
In the half-hour project, Wayans will play a fictionalized version of himself, exploring his professional life as a comedian and actor, as well as his personal life as he attempts to reconcile being a good person and loving father with being Marlon.
“We are beyond thrilled to develop this sophisticated and hilarious series with Marlon, Diallo, Bashir and Rick, who each bring their own level of artistry and authenticity to everything they touch,” said Kathryn Busby, President, Original Programming at STARZ. “I’ve long admired Diallo’s and Bashir’s work, and I’m excited to be working on a project as special as this with the incomparable Marlon Wayans at the center.”
“We’re excited to be in business with such enthusiastic partners. STARZ is a big brand, and we are happy to bring some smiles to the table,” said Wayans. “It’s great to know that we can push the envelope and get into some good, fun trouble with this project on this platform. Diallo and Bashir are good friends and great collaborators. ‘Book of Marlon’ will be smart, fun and twisted with a dash of heart and a whole lot of unapologetic humor.”
“We believe Marlon is a once-in-a-generation talent and we’re thrilled to finally be working with him in this capacity on a show,” said Riddle and Salahuddin. "We can’t wait for people to get a glimpse of what his real life is like and we can’t thank STARZ enough for allowing us to do so in an unflinchingly honest way.”
Through their overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, Diallo Riddle (“Marlon,” “Insecure”) and Bashir Salahuddin (Top Gun: Maverick, “The Dropout”), creators of “Sherman’s Showcase” and “South Side,” have been tapped to serve as showrunners of “Book of Marlon,” and they will executive produce along with Wayans, Rick Alvarez (“Marlon,” Sextuplets) and 3 Arts Entertainment’s Michael Rotenberg (Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe, “Silicon Valley”). Wayans, Riddle, Salahuddin and Alvarez will co-write the pilot episode.
“Book of Marlon” will be produced by Warner Bros. Television for STARZ. Director of Original Programming Alex Alberts, Senior Vice President of Original Programming Kathryn Tyus-Adair and Senior Vice President of Unscripted Programming Alice Dickens-Koblin will oversee the series on behalf of STARZ.
About Marlon Wayans
Marlon Wayans is an actor, producer, comedian, writer, and film director. His films have grossed more than $736 million at the domestic box office and $1 billion at the global box office. As a standup comedian, he is selling out nationwide and adding shows every weekend. He hit a career milestone with his highly anticipated first-ever stand-up comedy special WOKE-ISH which premiered on Netflix in February 2018.
Next up, Wayans can be seen this Fall in Netflix’s THE CURSE OF BRIDGE HOLLOW which he produced and stars in. He recently wrapped production on Ben Affleck’s Nike drama for Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures.
Wayans gained rave reviews for his guest star role as Lou in BEL-AIR'S finale episode.
Wayans can most recently be seen starring as Ted White in MGM’s Aretha Franklin biopic, RESPECT, opposite Jennifer Hudson. In 2020 he starred in Sofia Coppola’s Apple-A24 movie ON THE ROCKS opposite Rashida Jones and Bill Murray.
Wayans signed an overall deal with HBO Max to perform a standup special and hosting a multi-act special. This resulted in his specials, MARLON WAYANS: YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS and MARLON WAYANS PRESENTS: THE HEADLINERS, which are currently streaming on the service.
Wayans starred in the Netflix movie SEXTUPLETS which tells the story of Alan (Wayans), a man embarking on a personal journey to meet his birth mother before the arrival of his first child. When Alan meets his brother, Russell, he discovers that he was born a sextuplet and decides to seek out his four other siblings (all played by Marlon). Together, the two brothers set out on a road trip to track down the rest of the family that they’ve never known.
Wayans starred for two seasons on the NBC sitcom “Marlon.” Loosely based on his life, “Marlon” is a family comedy centered around a loving (but immature) father committed to co-parenting his two kids with his very-together ex-wife, played by Essence Atkins. Both seasons of “Marlon” are currently airing on Netflix.
Marlon starred in the hit Netflix movie NAKED which premiered in 2017. Based on the Swedish film, NAKEN, the romantic comedy co-stars Regina Hall and reunites Wayans with director Michael Tiddes. Marlon, who is also a writer and producer on the film, stars as Rob Anderson, a charming man-child, who wakes up on his wedding day, naked in an elevator, reliving the hour before the ceremony over and over again. He starred in FIFTY SHADES OF BLACK, which he also wrote and executive-produced, in January 2016. Directed by Michael Tiddes, the film co-starred Mike Epps and Kali Hawk.
In 2014, Wayans starred in the Open Road Films comedy A HAUNTED HOUSE 2, the sequel to the hilarious and successful film, A HAUNTED HOUSE, which had a budget of $1.7 million and grossed $65 million globally. Wayans produced both films.
On the small screen, Wayans hosted the hit NBC show “I Can Do That!,” a comedy/variety series where six celebrities are asked to put on an entertainment show with skills they didn’t even know they had. He also starred in and created the TBS hit comedy competition series “Funniest Wins.” In 2014, he embarked on a national comedy tour with his brothers Keenan, Damon and Shawn Wayans. This marked the first standup tour for the four Wayans Brothers.
Wayans is commonly recognized for his role as ‘Marcus Copeland’ in Columbia Pictures’ 2004 hit comedy WHITE CHICKS, opposite Shawn Wayans, Jamie King and Terry Crews. The film was directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and grossed $69 million in the United States. He also starred alongside Shawn Wayans and Regina Hall in Dimension Films’ horror comedy spoof films SCARY MOVIE and SCARY MOVIE 2, directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans.
Wayans’ additional film credits include the Columbia Pictures comedy MO’ MONEY; New Line Cinema’s drama ABOVE THE RIM; Miramax’s parody film DON’T BE A MENACE TO SOUTH CENTRAL WHILE DRINKING YOUR JUICE IN THE HOOD; Touchstone Pictures’ THE SIXTH MAN; Miramax’s SENSELESS; DUNGEONS & DRAGONS; Darren Aronofsky’s hit drama REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, opposite Jared Leto and Jennifer Connolly; The Coen Brothers’ THE LADYKILLERS, opposite Tom Hanks; BEHIND THE SMILE; Columbia Pictures’ LITTLE MAN; DreamWorks’ NORBIT, opposite Eddie Murphy; Paramount Pictures and MTV’s parody film DANCE FLICK; Paramount’s G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, opposite Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid and Joseph Gordon-Levitt; 20th Century Fox’s MARMADUKE; and the hit comedy THE HEAT, opposite Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.
Additionally, Wayans starred with his brother Shawn Wayans on The WB’s “The Wayans Bros.” which was the highest-rated comedy on the network and continues to air in syndication. He has appeared on several popular television programs, including Fox’s “In Living Color,” Adult Swim’s “Children's Hospital,” and BET’s “Second Generation Wayans.” Wayans is repped by WME, 3 Arts, and Morris Yorn.
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