Cast of K'naans new show just announced and most of the main actors aren't Somali

[Duchess]

6 out of 9 main characters will be played by non-Somali actors. Here they are:

Ezana Alem will play Sameer, the Somali all-American boy, who is described as a handsome, excellent student who is planning to go away to college with his beautiful girlfriend, Lacy. He is devoted to his parents, yet pressured by their hopes and dreams for him.

Selam Tadese will play Bisbaas, a renowned gangster with a friendly laugh and a surprising violent streak. Beloved by his nephew Ali (Abdirahman Abdi), he returns to the neighborhood after years of banishment by his sister and brother.

Rif Hutton will play Afrah, Sameer’s (Alem) father, a former professor in Somalia who works at a rental car company since immigrating to the United States, and is preparing to take the American citizenship test. His experience has given him a detached wisdom and a wry sense of humor.

Elvis Nolasco will play Liban, Ali’s (Abdirahman Abdi) uncle and proud owner of Liban’s Classy Hookah. He’s an upright citizen who prizes the family’s reputation above all else. He is not pleased when his brother, Bisbaas (Tadese), returns to town. Nolasco is repped by APA and Silver Lining Entertainment.

K.C. Collins will play Jamal, who is described as street-wise, mysterious and handsome with an effortless charisma. He fashions himself after revolutionaries and tries to live his life by the book.

Liya Kebede will play Maryam, Ali’s (Abdirahman Abdi) mother who is strong-willed, vivacious and is the glue holding her family together. She is deeply troubled by her quarreling brothers.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/kathryn-bigelow-hbo-pilot-mogadishu-minnesota-sets-cast-163041387.html

 

[AceofSom]

After what those savage reer badiyo reer mn did, why should he cast Somalis?


btw Liya is fine as hell.

 

[merka]

Time for another protest Minneapolis.

 

[Grigori Rasputin]

This is a treason! Complete opportunist ! In the interviews he gave after the protest the guy said "even my makeup will be done by a Somali and even the construction of the movie setting will be taught to Somalis"

 

[Duchess]

After what those savage reer badiyo reer mn did, why should he cast Somalis?


btw Liya is fine as hell.

He's in Minnesota to shoot the pilot and had already decided that the main cast would be non-Somali long before he arrived in the state. He claims his show will help the Somali-American community but the main cast is 2/3's non-Somali and the star of the show is non-Somali?

Those kids were clearly on to something.

 

[AceofSom]

He's in Minnesota to shoot the pilot and had already decided that the main cast would be non-Somali long before he arrived in the state. He claims his show will help the Somali-American community but the main cast is 2/3's non-Somali and the star of the show is non-Somali?

Those kids were clearly on to something.

I highly doubt it, coming from you. Anways on his facebook page he said he was doing auditions for Somali actors.

After they acted like a bunch of savages, he properly had a change of heart.

 

[Mercury]

So what the heck is the story about?

that Uncle is caring about the family reputation while he owns a shisha spot

 

[Duchess]

This is a treason! Complete opportunist ! In the interviews he gave after the protest the guy said "even my makeup will be done by a Somali and even the construction of the movie setting will be taught to Somalis"

The three Somali actors will play minor/supporting roles. At least 2 of them are from the UK. What was the point of his casting calls in the US and Canada? He specifically asked for Somali actors. Was it all for show?

Prince Abdi will play Big Man, a spliff-smoking petty thug, who takes care of his blind grandmother. He has filled the void left by Bisbaas’s (Tadese) banishment and is now threatened by his return.

Yusra Warsama will play Hawo, Sameer’s (Alem) mother who is a hard-working and loving parent. She holds fast to traditional Somali family values, which often conflict with the agenda of an American teenager.

 

[Thegoodshepherd]

This is a complete disaster, it will only bring negative attention to our community. I fucking live here, where the hell can I escape to from all the ceeb? FML

 

[Duchess]

So what the heck is the story about?

that Uncle is caring about the family reputation while he owns a shisha spot

A Somali-American high school student who's from a traditional family but dating a white girl and finding it difficult to balance the two worlds. He's a good kid, but lives in a troubled neighborhood and has some iffy relations. Mix in some ISIS recruiters and that's pretty much the show.

I highly doubt it, coming from you. Anways on his facebook page he said he was doing auditions for Somali actors.

After they acted like a bunch of savages, he properly had a change of heart.

Are you slow? The casting calls were months ago. If he had selected Somali actors, why would he fire them because of an unrelated protest?

The cast was decided long ago and he is currently in Minnesota to film the pilot. It's only after the pilot that HBO will decide whether the show will make it to air.

 

[Tramo]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/kathryn-bigelow-hbo-pilot-mogadishu-minnesota-sets-cast-163041387.html

do i gotta watch this now

 

[Mercury]

Somalis should protest by not watching this show low ratings and this is gone

 

[Duchess]

do i gotta watch this now

I like Liya but she can't act for shit. Have you seen Desert Flower?

 

[ChickenOriental]

Whatever this show brings can't be worse than the relentless "I am the Captain now" memes and impressions non-Somalis were making after Captain Philips.

 

[Mercury]

Whatever this show brings can't be worse than the relentless "I am the Captain now" memes and impressions non-Somalis were making after Captain Philips.

What makes this worse is K naan helped produce this

I hope it flops on the pilot

 

[AceofSom]

At the end of the day, HBO needs people who can act, and who have at least some kind of acting experince. I doubt theirs many Somalis who can fill that role, especially a lead role.

 

[Tramo]

I like Liya but she can't act for shit. Have you seen Desert Flower?

naw, but bad acting is no bueno

who even are any of these actors? the only one i recognize is prince abdi cuz of this youtube clip where ppl are cringing at his stand up

 

[Mercury]

At the end of the day, HBO needs people who can act, and who have at least some kind of acting experince. I doubt theirs many Somalis who can fill that role, especially a lead role.

 

[ChickenOriental]

There are plenty of cadaan shows where the people can't act. They just make up for it by being very attractive and having a ridiculous storyline that you can't turn away from. We need a Somali The OC.

 

[AceofSom]

I doubt Mr Barkhad would wanna be on the small screens, it will ruin his chance of making it big. Other then him i don't think we actually have any Somali actors that are know.