The only description of the scenario is that it is “a story of tragedy and salvation.” Kaye, Jason Corder, and Charles Chanchori are the authors. Producing credits go to DeForrest Taylor, Marc Le Chat, Kaye, and Raymond J. Markovich.
“Djimon and I met right after I finished American History X,” Kaye remarked. It was a therapeutic encounter, and I knew right away that I had to work with him as an actor. The content has to be accurate, and thank God we now have a project to collaborate on. My brain’s internal color cameras are prepared to film in Africa.
African History Y couldn’t have come at a better time, according to Hounsou, as he considered sharing more remarkable African stories with the world. It feels almost preordained that Tony and I have gone full circle to work together, so I’m happy to be working with him.
The music videos for Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train,” Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Dani California,” Roger Waters’ “What God Wants” and “Help Me,” Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” and others have been directed by Kaye, a six-time Grammy nominee. Edward Norton received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his performance in the 1998 New Line drama American History X as a former neo-Nazi skinhead who tries to stop his younger brother from making the same mistakes he did.
For Blood Diamond and In America, Hounsou was nominated for an Oscar as a supporting actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama for his work in Amistad. He appears in the movies The King’s Man from 20th Century Studios (out on February 12) and A Quiet Place Part II from Paramount (April 23). The Safran Company, CAA, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern are Hounsou’s agents. US Law, AIG, and Untitled are Kaye’s legal counsel.
