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Larenz Tate has announced that he is to collaborate with Nia Long once again in the upcoming production of Netflix which is inspired by the music of Maxwell. The onscreen pair, who have been recognized for their chemistry in Black romance cinema, will be working with Eugene Ashe, the director, and Charles King, the producer, for what Tate calls “something special” for the audience over the world and beyond. The deal appears to be based around one of Maxwell’s notable albums, “Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite”, which came out in 1996, and thus the actor’s admirers are already very thermally excited.
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The digital world was flooded with a wave of good vibes, happiness, and such, the very second Larenz Tate posted his announcement. There’s a specific kind of magic that these two particular actors together again bring forth and it’s like a very gentle re-discovery—just like spotting and retrieving a perfect old sweater from the bottom of your closet (one that you had forgotten about) but that “old sweater” happens to be the two most charming performers in Black cinema history.
The person who is the bearer of all this excitement is Tate, and the audience can almost feel the heat coming off the screen. “REUNITED and it feels sooo good!!!!” he said—almost the whole phrase with that lovely refrain and emphasizing it by capitalizing each word for that purpose. He considers the timing to be “devine” (sic) and extends his partners a mega-sincere shout-out—James “never quit” Lopez, Charles King, Poppy Hanks, the Macro team, director Eugene Ashe, and Maxwell the great. When he says “this is the one my guy!!!” you can almost see he is very confident. This is not a routine project; this is a very private feeling.
The whole thing about the link to Maxwell is extremely alluring. For the kids of the mid-90s, “Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite” was, in a way, a lifestyle, an experience, and the background of all romantic scenes. The album defined the slow storm R&B genre through the mix of soul, jazz, and romance that was very intimate. It speaks volumes that Tate would explicitly mention this album as it suggests that the project could be more than just giving a nod to Maxwell’s music—it might even be a direct interpretation, like “Love Jones,” which was able to use music in both ways: as a backdrop and a character.
A commenter did so perfectly, “One of my favorite albums (no skips) with my two favorite ‘black love’ actors.” The phraseology used here is very telling—”no skips” is a quality album implying that the artists might, however, only represent an idealized version of Black love. The watching is not casual anymore; this is event television that is being prepared.
Another user, however, went straight to a fantasy that many seem to have: “We gonna just pretend this is Love Jones 2!! IDC.” The capitalized “IDC” (I Don’t Care) reveals the strong yearning for a proper sequel to the 1997 classic even if this project is not a sequel in a technical sense. The comment demonstrates how closely the audience connects that sophistication urban love-story genre with Tate and Long as a couple.
However, the excitement is not only among nostalgic viewers. Naturi Naughton, the co-star (@naturi4real), was one of the first visitors to the comment section to share her opinion: “you already know how happy this makes me!!! love y’all! congrats.” The enthusiasm indicates that the industry is indeed the one receiving the first indication of this collaboration and as a result something special is on its way.
Maybe the most revealing commentator was the one who articulated a sentiment that many of us feel about Black people’s representation in media during the quote: “THANK YALL FOR PAYIN ATTENTION TO WHAT YA FANS WANT AND THE ACTING INDUSTRY NEEDS.” The comment is enlivened with word emojis and allusions to pajama parties and wine glasses, and it mirrors that kind of lovely feeling when the entertainment, at last, grants the long-awaited ‘epidemic’, namely narratives that mirror your experiences and so well performed by the stars who know exactly what the assignment is.
Delighted to find out that this can happen without borders, a Canadian follower even wished for the dosing of Netflix in their country to be the same as the project. Sure enough, quality Black love cannot be restricted by geographical boundaries.
What really stands out about this announcement is the coincidence of it with the establishment of a new era when the streaming services always keep quality and rather opt for quantity as a cheap way of maintaining their platforms’ dust-free. A project that comes with such a specific combination of talent—the tangible chemistry between Tate and Long, the relevance of Maxwell’s music, Netflix’s capacity for global reach—would be a conscious effort to create something meaningful rather than just add content.
Tate’s wording during the announcement seems to convey that he is conscious of the high expectations. When he declares that they are making “Sumthin’ special for YOU world,” he accentuates the word “YOU” as if it were deliberately capitalized—a clear sign for those who have been waiting for this reunion and that even if they were not aware of it.
The public is ecstatic at seeing the trust between themselves and the artists they have grown up with reflected in the news of the Tate-Long reunion. It is not only about catching glimpses of familiar faces; it is also about trusting those faces to bring back a certain feeling, to rekindle a particular cultural moment, to open that magic again which makes you believe in love. For sure the reaction to Tate’s announcement shows that the trust is not only there but it is very much intact.
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There are also collaborations that just seem to fit perfectly. The combination of the artistic powers of Larenz Tate and Nia Long together with Maxwell’s strong support and Netflix’s wide access is the kind of creative fusion that is hard to find. And when it does happen, and people do notice it, the corresponding response to this overwrought case is that they are stocked up with their wine glasses and matching pajamas, and waiting for the magic to happen. Larenz continues to inspire with his work, while his 50th birthday celebration showed his joyful spirit. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude for reaching this milestone, and fans love when he shows off his signature two-step vibe in new videos.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
