*Filmmaker Ava DuVernay hopes to create a TV series about Tom Bradley, Los Angeles’ first Black mayor, based on an upcoming book by Malcolm Gladwell.
She shared her interest during an appearance on “The Unusual Suspects,” a new Audible podcast hosted by Gladwell and Black-ish creator Kenya Barris. The podcast features conversations with influential figures across various industries. DuVernay, known for “When They See Us” and “Queen Sugar,” discussed Bradley’s legacy and her desire to bring his story to the screen.
“I’ve been working on this book about Tom Bradley,” said Gladwell, Deadline reports.
“I know you have and I’ve been tracking that thing. I’m just gonna say on this podcast, You need to let me make that into a limited series. That’s mine,” DuVernay replied.
Bradley was Los Angeles’ first liberal mayor, serving from 1973 to 1993, and the second Black mayor in U.S. history, following Kenneth A. Gibson of Newark.
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“[Bradley] is interesting… because he’s a man who was not permitted any freedom. He had to hold in every single feeling he had about the way he was being treated and all around him are people like Daryl Gates, his great antagonist, who was a white guy who was venerated for just being ‘authentic’. He could say whatever the hell he wanted to, and that was like part of why people love Daryl Gates. Tom Bradley could never say whatever the hell he wanted to, right? That idea that the two principal figures in a city for 20 years… one guy was never permitted to be himself, and one guy was venerated for being himself,” said Gladwell.
DuVernay said Gladwell’s book inspired her to want to create the TV show about the former mayor.
“That is either an ongoing series or a limited series. I don’t know how long you span, but through the course of his tenure – first of all, incredible story – it’s basically the story of Los Angeles,” the filmmaker said.
“That’s how I would do it, right? It was the story of Los Angeles through the eyes of Bradley, through his life and his career. Then you have Gates there. You need someone who’s, felt the Ghetto Bird going overhead. You’ve got to have someone from LA. You have to have someone who has experience with doing these incredible, in depth, dramatic pieces. I don’t know who else you’re looking at. I’m just telling you. I’m making my pitch right now,” DuVernay added.
The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell premieres on January 30, exclusively from Audible.
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