Andre Holland takes on the role of Huey P. Newton, the iconic Black Panther leader, in the upcoming Apple TV+ series "The Big Cigar," which charts Newton's dramatic flight to Cuba. The show, announced by Apple TV+, unfolds across six episodes, delving into Newton's tense escape to Cuba as the leader of the Black Panthers. Set to debut with a two-episode premiere on May 17, 2024, "The Big Cigar" brings to life the astounding true tale of a Hollywood revolution colliding with a social upheaval.
Apple describes the series as a thrilling adventure, depicting Black Panther co-founder Newton's escape from FBI pursuit to Cuba, aided by the renowned producer Bert Schneider through a wildly complex scheme involving a sham film production that encounters mishaps at every turn. Apple assures, "Despite the chaos, the story remains astonishingly true, for the most part."
Jim Hecht, known for "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty," pens the first episode, with Hecht and Janine Sherman Barrois, a veteran of "ER," steering the series as showrunners. The cast features Andre Holland as Newton, with Alessandro Nivola, Tiffany Boone, P.J. Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Moses Ingram, Rebecca Dalton, Olli Haaskivi, Jordane Christie, and Glynn Turman. The initial episodes see Don Cheadle in the dual role of director and executive producer, though information on the writers and directors for the rest of the series remains under wraps.
The narrative is inspired by a 2012 article by journalist Joshuah Bearman in Playboy magazine, also titled "The Big Cigar."
