Timothy Richardson: Celebs Rumors

Jussie Smollett has made his return to Hollywood after his slew of legal troubles over the past three and half years, and he's excited to be making his art again.Smollett spoke with ET on the red carpet at this year's BET Awards, at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, and opened up about his career comeback as a director of the BET+ original movie While Smollett said he «never thought of myself as working my way back,» he admitted that getting the chance to get back on a set and create following his legal scandal has been «wonderful.»«This has always been the plan, to expand my empire, so to speak,» Smollett said of stepping behind the camera to helm a project and work with other actors as a director. «To expand the level of what I want to do… to be able to usher in a new generation of artists and actors and these amazing talents.»Starring, Timothy Richardson, Ledisi, Brandee Evans, Heather B, Marquise Vilson, Jabari Redd, Broderick Hunter and Thomas Mackie, is the film adaptation of James Earl Hardy’s novel by the same name.Smollett's directorial debut comes after he was sentenced to 150 days behind bars in March and given 30 months of felony probation -- three months after he was found guilty on five of the six counts of disorderly conduct for which he was charged. Smollett also had a message for those who stuck by him and supported him throughout his legal scandal as he staunchly denied wrongdoing.«I tell them, with all my heart, just thank you,» Smollett told ET.

Love the One You’re With, which he wrote and produced, and this summer’s B-Boy Blues, the long-awaited film adaptation of James Earl Hardy’s seminal 1994 Black gay romance novel.McCormick, part of the original cast of the B-Boy Blues stage play, executive produced the film, along with Hardy, who co-wrote the script with the film’s director, Jussie Smollett. The storm of controversy surrounding Smollett, of course, has cast a long shadow over the film, which premiered on BET+ in June.

Jussie Smollett has launched his directorial debut with BET+ "B-Boy Blues." The LGBTQ+ centered show will debut on the streaming network June 9, just in time for Pride Month. This project marks the first for Smollett since he was found guilty of making false reports on what he alleged to be a hate crime.

Jussie Smollett, is making his directorial debut next month. Per , the Smollett-directed , has been picked up by BET+ and will hit the streamer June 9, as part of BET+'s Pride Month programming.In addition to directing and writing the project, Smollett is also a producer on , alongside  Mona Scott-Young and her Monami Entertainment, who the outlet said was instrumental in getting the deal done with BET+.Starring, Timothy Richardson, Ledisi, Brandee Evans, Heather B, Marquise Vilson, Jabari Redd, Broderick Hunter and Thomas Mackie, is the film adaptation of James Earl Hardy’s novel by the same name.Described as «a clash of class and culture when Mitchell Crawford, a college educated journalist from Brooklyn and Raheim Rivers, a bike messenger from Harlem, fall in love,» the indie film made its award-winning debut last year at the 2021 American Black Film Festival, taking home the Narrative Feature Fan Favorite Award. Smollett's directorial debut comes after he was sentenced to 150 days behind bars in March and given 30 months of felony probation -- three months after he was found guilty on five of the six counts of disorderly conduct for which he was charged.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeFormer “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett’s directing debut has finally found a home: BET+ has picked up “B-Boy Blues,” which will debut on the streamer on June 9 in time for Pride Month. As part of the pickup, Mona Scott-Young and her Monami Entertainment has joined the film as a producer and was instrumental in getting the deal done with BET+.“B-Boy Blues” reps the first project for Smollett since being found guilty of making false reports about what he alleged to be a hate crime.