‘The Crossover’ Creator Kwame Alexander On Adapting His Award-Winning Novel For Screen And The Importance Of Showcasing Black Humanity
deadline.comIn Disney+’s latest series, The Crossover, the teenage intricacies of first love, drama, and aspiring stardom reign supreme on and off the court.
Based on the critically acclaimed best-selling verse novel by Kwame Alexander, who also serves as the TV adaptation’s creator, EP, co-writer and co-showrunner, the series follows the lives of two teen brothers, Josh (Jalyn Hall) and Jordan Bell (Amir O’Neil) as they navigate life’s many uncertainties from boyhood to manhood.
Though primarily focused on the boy’s relationship with basketball, a sport engrained in them at birth thanks to their former professional basketball-playing father (Derek Luke), the series unabashedly tackles serious issues regarding teenage rebellion, self-discovery, disability, and mental health challenges.
Hall told Deadline about the significance of being a part of a series that centers on two young Black male teens. “I believe that realistic and relatable coming-of-age stories are really important in today’s society, as they allow people, particularly teenagers, to connect with the world in a deeper way,” Hall said. “I also believe that having authentic and uplifting portrayals of Black kids onscreen is a huge step in the right direction; often, you don’t see that, but now with The Crossover, you can.
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