Spike Lee’s upcoming revival of “She’s Gotta Have It,” has delivered its first look.
Based on the classic, contemporary 1986 debut film of the same title, the 10-episode series follows Nola Darling (played by DeWanda Wise of “Shots Fired”), an outspoken, uncompromising 20-something Brooklyn-based artist, as she struggles to define herself amid juggling career, friends, and three very different lovers.
As previously reported, Netflix announced the reboot in September 2016. Here’s how they described the project:
“She’s Gotta Have It the Netflix Original Series from Academy Award Nominated Director SPIKE LEE is a 10-episode contemporary update of Lee’s 1986 revolutionary debut film. Starring DeWanda Wise (Shots Fired) in the central role of Nola Darling, a Brooklyn-based artist in her late twenties struggling to define herself and divide her time amongst her Friends, her Job and her Three Lovers: Greer Childs played by Cleo Anthony (Divergent), Jamie Overstreet played by Lyriq Bent (The Book of Negroes), and Mars Blackmon played by Hamilton alum Anthony Ramos. Chyna Layne (Precious) and Ilfenesh Hadeara (Baywatch), Margot Bingham (Barbershop: The Next Cut), Sydney Morton (Love, New York), and Joie Lee (Do The Right Thing) also star. Lee directs all 10 episodes of the series, he created and produced the show.”
Meanwhile, Lee released a statement, writing, “She’s Gotta Have It has a very special place in my heart,” he began. “We shot this film in 12 days (two, six-day weeks) way back in the back of the hot summer of 1985 for a mere total of $175,000. Funds that we begged, borrowed and whatnot to get that money. This is the 1st official Spike Lee feature film joint and everything that we have been blessed with in this tough business of film all have been due to SGHI.
“Now with the passing [Aug. 8] of the 30th anniversary, it’s a gift that keeps on giving. We are getting an opportunity to revisit these memorable characters who will still be relevant and avant garde three decades later. With all that said it was my wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, a producer in her own right, who had the vision to take my film from the big screen and turn it into an episodic series. It had not occurred to me at all. Tonya saw it plain as day. I didn’t.
“We are hyped that Netflix is on board with this vision as Nola Darling, Mars Blackmon, Jamie Overstreet and Greer Childs do da damn thang now, today in da Republic of Brooklyn, New York.”
The Lee-directed series also credits his wife as an executive producer.
“She’s Gotta Have It,” which is also produced by Barry Michael Cooper and Lynn Nottage, premieres on Thursday, Nov. 23 on Netflix.
Will you be watching? In the meantime, here’s a first look at photos from the highly anticipated show.
