Marsai Martin's "Amari and the Night Brothers" Optioned by Universal Pictures

　　A Magical Journey Awaits

　　Marsai Martin, the young star of "Black-ish," is making waves in Hollywood not only as an actress but also as a producer. Her production company, Genius Productions, has optioned the rights to Amari and the Night Brothers, a debut novel by B.B. Alston. The book, which is set to be published in January 2021 by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, has sparked a bidding war among several studios.

　　The novel, a middle-grade contemporary real-world fantasy, follows the story of a black girl who embarks on a journey to discover her hidden powers. Details about the plot are being kept under wraps, but the book has already generated significant buzz at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in April, where it was sold to several territories worldwide in a heated auction.

　　Martin will star in the film adaptation of Amari and the Night Brothers, which will also mark her second producing credit alongside her father, Josh Martin. Don Cheadle, Todd Lieberman, and David Hoberman of Mandeville Films (Beauty and the Beast, Wonder) will also serve as producers.

　　Martin, who recently signed a first-look deal with Universal Pictures, is excited about the opportunity to bring Amari's story to the big screen. She shared the news of the project while vacationing in Mexico, expressing her enthusiasm for the upcoming film.

　　From the brief summary that has been released, it is evident that Amari and the Night Brothers promises to be a captivating story about black girl magic. With Martin's involvement both in front of and behind the camera, the film is sure to be a magical journey that resonates with audiences of all ages.