Amazon developing Fast Color series adaptation with Viola Davis producing

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

After hitting select theaters back in April Amazon Studios is wasting no time developing a new series based on the indie sci-fi gem, FAST COLOR. The grounded take on the superhero genre from director Julia Hart earned solid reviews coming out of SXSW in 2018 and going into its release this year, and it will be getting the TV treatment from producers Viola Davis and Julius Tennon via their JuVee Productions label.

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The movie centers on a Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Ruth, a young woman who has special powers but suffers from seizures strong enough to cause earthquakes. After being on the run for years she returns home to her mother and daughter (Lorraine Toussaint and Saniyya Sidney) as the story focuses on the three generations of black women, all of whom have powers that have descended from their family for generations. Hart co-wrote the script with partner Jordan Horowitz, and the two will also produce via their Original Headquarters label along with Mickey Liddell’s LD Entertainment.

According to Deadline, the series will be an adaptation of Ruth making her way home to her family, and “rediscovers the special powers she thought she lost, powers that her family have long kept hidden from the public.” Their synopsis continues, writing the story will follow “Three Generations of black women reconnect and as they learn more about themselves and the generations who came before, they begin to realize that one of them could save the world.” Hart and Horowitz will write the pilot with Hart directing.

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COLOR received solid reviews between its SXSW debut and its theatrical release, and after struggling to gain distribution it was picked up by Lionsgate and Code Black Films and was put into 25 theaters, where it topped out at $76, 916. But with the movie coming out on Digital and DVD/Blu-ray the movie has found more of an audience, and Hart put out a statement saying she’s grateful for all the support.

“Since the day we premiered at SXSW, there has been an incredible outpouring of grassroots support for this film,” Hart said. “We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to continue living in this world, with these women, and can’t imagine better partners than Viola and Julius and Mickey and Pete and everyone at Amazon.”

Having checked out FAST COLOR when it hit Digital I can say there's plenty of room and mythology to explore in this grounded world Hart and Horowitz created. The movie tackles the genre in a rich, unique way that provides a different perspective by centering on three generations of powerful black women. The movie itself doesn't always work, but the parts that absolutely do involve the three women exploring their powers and their history, and surely the series will focus on fleshing that all out. 

Go check out FAST COLOR if you haven't already!