Samuel Jackson and Angela Bassett in Talks for Film Adaptation of ‘Black Nativity’

By Stan | Published on July 4, 2012

‘The Mountaintop’ co-stars Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett are in talks to reteam for ‘Black Nativity’ alongside Jennifer Hudson.

Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett are in talks to reteam for ‘Black Nativity’.

The pair – who previously starred together in Broadway production ‘The Mountaintop’ are in negotiations to join the cast of Kasi Lemmons’ forthcoming festive film, as is ‘Dreamgirls’ star Jennifer Hudson.

The film – which is based on Langston Hughes’ gospel musical that was first performed on Broadway in 1961 – follows a young black teenager from Baltimore who is sent by his single mother to spend Christmas with the grandparents he has never met in Harlem. He learns about the importance of faith and family through his preacher grandfather’s Christmas Eve sermon and a dream-sequence retelling of the Nativity story.

The teenager has yet to be cast, but Samuel is expected to play the grandfather, Rev. Clarence Cobbs, and Angela his wife Aretha, while Jennifer is in talks to play their daughter, who hasn’t spoken to her father since they rowed.

In addition, Variety reports that Samuel is also likely to play multiple characters during the Nativity sequence.

Bill Horberg and Celine Rattray will produce along with Galt Niederhoffer and Daniela Taplin Lundberg, while Joy Goodwin will serve as executive producer.

Source: Contact Music

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