Shudder & AMC Greenlight an Untitled Black Horror Anthology

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Make no mistake about it, representation matters in the entertainment industry. Simply because, people from all walks of life tune into television shows and head to the theaters and it isn’t right that those particular mediums are filled with casts and stories that don’t properly reflect the diversity that exists in reality. Because seeing proper representation on the screen, makes the experience special and it allows for us to connect with stories on a fundamental level and thankfully, the demand for proper representation is being heard by the industry and we are starting to see more diverse casts and stories in prime time and at the multiplex.

But while it is nice to see progress, we still have a long way to go, and some networks and production companies out there realize this, and are willing to push harder to make sure that everyone has a seat at the table and one company that understands this and is working to provide its viewers with better representation is Shudder. For not only does this horror service curate a selection of horror films that celebrate diversity in filmmaking, but it is also now working to create brand new programming that gives underrepresented voices a chance to tell unique and powerful stories.

For earlier today, Shudder and AMC announced that they are greenlighting an Untitled Black Horror Anthology, one that will showcase Black stories from Black screenwriters and directors and well, it’s best we let Shudder explain further… what we can expect from this exciting new show.

AMC and Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today the greenlight of the scripted Untitled Black Horror Anthology showcasing stories of Black horror from Black directors and screenwriters. The anthology is set to debut later this year on Shudder and AMC+, the company’s premium streaming bundle, followed by a premiere on AMC – a successful windowing strategy previously implemented for the streamer’s hit original series Creepshow. 

The Untitled Black Horror Anthology will feature new work from both established and emerging talents, expanding on a legacy of Black genre filmmaking whose first hundred years was explored in Shudder’s critically acclaimed 2019 documentary, Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror.

Writers attached to the project include the NAACP Award-winning husband-and-wife writing duo Tananarive Due (My Soul to Keep, Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror) and Steven Barnes (Lion’s Blood), Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated writer, illustrator and graphic novelist Ezra C. Daniels (BTTM FDRS), World Fantasy and Bram Stoker Award-winning novelist Victor LaValle (The Ballad of Black Tom, The Changeling) and Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winner Al Letson (State of the RE:Union).

Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman, author of the groundbreaking book Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present, on which the documentary was based, will be consulting on the anthology, as will documentary producers Phil Nobile Jr., Kelly Ryan and Ashlee Blackwell.

“When we saw the first cut of our Horror Noire documentary, we realized there was a huge untapped reservoir of great Black horror stories that needed to be told, and an extremely talented group of writers and directors ready to tell them,” said Shudder General Manager Craig Engler. “While the documentary was a look back at the history of Black horror, this anthology is a showcase for the future and will introduce audiences to fantastic new stories and characters.”

The Untitled Black Horror Anthology will be produced by Swirl Films, and Eric Tomosunas, founder of Swirl Films, and Ron Robinson will serve as Executive Producers.

If anything, this is a wonderful decision on Shudder and AMC’s part to help move representation forward in the entertainment industry and we here at Nerds That Geek cannot wait to see what kinds of incredible stories this series is going to bring to life, when it premieres on Shudder and AMC+, later this year.

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