Casting Twist - Michael Bivins Says He Initially Wanted Larenz Tate to Play Him in 2017 New Edition Miniseries
Casting Twist - Michael Bivins Says He Initially Wanted Larenz Tate to Play Him in 2017 New Edition Miniseries
Hey there, entertainment enthusiasts! Get ready to dive into the exciting world of casting decisions and how the superstar Michael Bivins originally envisioned his role in the 2017 BET miniseries, "The New Edition Story." But guess what? It wasn't the "Empire" sensation Bryshere Y. Gray who first caught his eye. So, let's hop into the time machine and see how it all went down!
Picture this: it's 2017, and "The New Edition Story" is about to rock your TV screens. Bryshere Y. Gray, also known as Hakeem from "Empire," graced our screens as the one and only Michael Lamont Bivins. But hold on to your hats, folks, because that wasn't Plan A!
In a fantastic sit-down with Page Six, Michael Bivins himself, the genius behind New Edition and Bel Biv Devoe, revealed his initial dream cast. Brace yourselves, because he had two A-listers in mind: the charismatic "Love Jones" star Larenz Tate and the charming "Red Tails" actor Tristan Wilds. Now, that would've been a casting spectacle, wouldn't it?
But here's the twist in this star-studded saga. Both Larenz and Tristan were, regrettably, unavailable for the gig. So, what's a guy to do when his top choices are busy being awesome somewhere else? Well, you turn to the wisest counsel around, and in Bivins' case, that's his better half, Teasha Bivins!
Teasha Bivins had a vision, my friends, and it involved none other than Bryshere Y. Gray. Michael Bivins might not have seen it back then, but he's here to tell you – he sure does see it now! And as they say, behind every great man, there's an even greater woman, right?
In the end, Bryshere Y. Gray aced the role of Michael Bivins. But let's not forget that Bivins played his part as a coach and mentor too. "All I did was drill him," Bivins says. He passed on his wisdom to Bryshere, and the result was nothing short of fantastic.
"The New Edition Story" was a star-studded masterpiece, with an all-star lineup that would make any casting director swoon. Woody McClain rocked the stage as Bobby Brown, Algee Smith channeled his inner Ralph Tresvant, Elijah Kelley had us grooving as Ricky Bell, Keith Powers embodied Ronnie DeVoe, and Luke James serenaded us with the soulful vibes of Johnny Gill.
So, there you have it, a casting adventure filled with twists, turns, and a dash of spousal wisdom. It might not have gone as planned, but sometimes, life has a way of surprising us with the perfect fit. And in this case, Bryshere Y. Gray was just that – the perfect fit for the legendary Michael Bivins in "The New Edition Story."