According to a press release, Amazon has just cast Black-ish’s Marsai Martin in its upcoming live-action special based on the popular historically-themed American Girl dolls. Martin will be starring as Melody, a little girl living in 1963 Detroit in the midst of the civil rights movement. The story revolves around her first beginning to notice the “racial inequality surrounding her,” shaking her belief in the “promise of our country’s Pledge Of Allegiance.” We don’t want to spoil too much, but the press release says that she then goes on an “emotional journey of self-reflection” and learns that “it’s important to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s hard or scary.”
The film will be called Melody, 1963: Love Has To Win, An American Girl Story,which is an awesome title that sounds like the name of a Japanese role-playing game. It will also star Titanic’s Frances Fisher, The Wire’s Frankie Faison, and Rizzoli & Isles’ Idara Victor. Melody, 1963: Love Has To Win, An American Girl Story was directed by Queen Sugar’s Tina Mabry and written by Roots’ Alison McDonald. Also, Common is a producer on Melody, 1963: Love Has To Win, An American Girl Story, which is a good excuse to write out the full title again.
Melody, 1963: Dawn Of Justice, An American Girl Story will premiere on Amazon Prime Video this fall.