Reginald Hudlin named 1st Black executive producer of the Emmys

Frank Scherma, Television Academy chairman and CEO, said a 'reimagined' Emmys is in the works. 

Acclaimed producer/director Reginald Hudlin is set to make Hollywood history when he becomes the first-ever Black executive producer of the Primetime Emmys.

Guy Carrington, David Jammy and Ian Stewart of Done + Dusted are also set to return to produce the telecast alongside host Jimmy Kimmel, Variety reports. 

“I’m excited to collaborate with this outstanding team as we produce a show that celebrates the best of what we do and reflects this moment in history,” said Hudlin, who earned an Emmy nomination for producing the 88th Academy Awards show. 

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Meanwhile, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, details about whether the Emmys will go down live in-person or virtual are reportedly still being worked out. 

Frank Scherma, Television Academy chairman and CEO, said a “reimagined” Emmys is in the works. 

“The world has been turned upside-down by a pandemic, but television has remained our steadfast friend through it all, and we want to come together to honor this friend of ours that informs, entertains and oftentimes uplifts us when we need it most,” said Ian Stewart of Done+Dusted. “How we accomplish that on Emmy night is a question we’re all grappling with, but any stumbling block can be a stepping stone, depending on how you use it.”

Hudlin’s career spans three decades across film and television, including a stint at BET as the first entertainment president for the network. He is best known for films such as House Party, Boomerang, and Bebe’s Kids. As a producer, he earned an Oscar best picture nomination in 2013 for Django Unchained.

His awards show credits include executive producing the NAACP Image Awards for nearly a decade.

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The Illinois-native was also an executive producer of The Boondocks and wrote and produced the animated series Black Panther, based on a comic book he wrote.

“Each year Done + Dusted has produced the Emmys, they’ve brought new ideas and a great collaborative spirit, and with the addition of Reggie Hudlin, it promises to be a truly exceptional night,” said Scherma. “In this year of tremendous challenge, we look forward to the joint team innovating even more, delivering a reimagined Emmys to honor the exceptional television that has brought us together while we’ve had to remain apart.”

Nominations for the 72nd Emmy Awards will be announced by the Television Academy on July 28.

Hudlin’s latest film, The Black Godfather, is currently streaming on Netflix. 

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