Marsai Martin (Black-ish) has been cast in Amazon's original upcoming American Girl live-action special MELODY, 1963: Love Has to Win, an American Girl Story as Melody, which will premiere on Amazon Prime Video this fall. Executive produced by Common (Selma), Melody will also star Frances Fisher (Titanic) as Miss Abbot, Frankie Faison (The Wire) as Melody's grandfather Frank Ellison, and Idara Victor (Rizzoli & Isles) as Melody's mother Frances Ellison.
Based in 1963 Detroit during the civil rights movement, Melody centers around a 10-year-old girl Melody (Martin) whose eyes are opened to the racial inequality surrounding her, including the 1963 Birmingham Church Bombing. As a result, her BELIEF in the "indivisible" promise of our country's Pledge of ALLEGIANCE comes into question as she challenges her teacher on the validity of this given the horrific tragedy. After an emotional journey of self-reflection, her mother gives her the courage she needs by reminding her that it's important to "stand up for what's right, even when it's hard or scary." This project is written and executive produced by Alison McDonald (Roots), directed and produced by Tina Mabry (Mississippi Damned, Queen Sugar), executive produced by Common's Freedom Road Productions. Christopher Keenan and Melinda McCrocklin are executive producers for American Girl. The Melody special is an Amazon adaptation on American Girl's original created stories written by Denise Lewis Patrick.Videos