movies

Samuel Monroe Jr. Dead: ‘Menace II Society’ Actor Was 52

Published

1 hour ago

August 27, 2026

Samuel Monroe Jr., who made his acting debut in 1993’s Menace II Society and went on to appear in Tales from the Hood, The Players Club and various TV roles, died Wednesday, August 26, months after first battling a severe case of meningitis and MRSA pneumonia. He was 52.

His mother Joyce Patton, announced his death in a Facebook post today. “I want to thank all of my Facebook family and friends new and old for praying for Samuel Monroe, Jr., my son,” she wrote. “But today God called him home. Please honor my final request to pray for the family, especially his 3 children.”

Earlier yesterday Patton posted a message stating that Monroe was “having a procedure please pray now. Not looking good, please pray.” His hospitalization is believed to have been related to the meningitis, and reports indicate he was on life support at the time.

Born in Los Angeles on November 28, 1973, Monroe first gained notice in 1993 with his appearance in The Hughes Brothers’ Menace II Society. Around that time he also appeared in the Patti LaBelle sitcom Out All Night.

Next came Tales from the Hood in 1995, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), two episodes of NYPD Blue, the ’96 film Set It Off with Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah and Vivica A. Fox, and in 1998 Ice Cube’s The Players Club.

Subsequent credits include episodes of Southland and Black Jesus, as well as films She Ball, Blood Sacrifice and, in 2023, Packz. His IMdB page lists an upcoming comedy film, Extra’d Out, as being in pre-production.

He is survived by his mother and three sons; additional information on survivors was not immediately available.

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Jon Batiste To Narrate/E.P. ‘American Amazon’ Doc For Super Big Screen

Published

5 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

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EXCLUSIVE: Grammy-winning musician and actor Jon Batiste is inviting audiences on a spectacular journey through natural wonders of a part of the country he knows very well, “the vast network of wetlands spanning Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and the Carolinas.”

MacGillivray Freeman Films announced Thursday that New Orleans-area native Batiste will narrate and serve as executive producer on American Amazon, a documentary set to premiere November 13 in select IMAX and giant screen theaters and museums. It will debut as a two-part miniseries on PBS’ Nature in early 2027.

Batiste not only narrates but appears on screen in American Amazon, which hails from Grizzly Creek Films and The WNET Group’s Nature. We have your exclusive look at the trailer below, which features stunning photography of the wetlands that deserve to be known, as the film suggests, as the American Amazon.

A release notes that terrain qualifies as “one of North America’s least explored and biologically rich regions… Batiste brings a powerful emotional resonance to this immersive journey, elevating the film’s celebration of nature, culture, and human connection to the ecosystem.”

Batiste, an 8-time Grammy winner, commented, “I love introducing people to the swamp. Growing up in Louisiana, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the landscapes, culture, and spirit of my home. I think the South is sacred soil. American Amazon reveals the wild side that many people have never seen. It’s a world of extraordinary beauty, mystery, and life – hiding right in our own backyard. We’re celebrating the power of nature, creativity, and human connection – and this is just the beginning!”

Eric Bendick of Grizzly Creek Films wrote, directed, and co-produced the documentary. “Jon Batiste brings the American Amazon to life,” the filmmaker observed. “His creativity, passion, and energy invite us to fall in love with this wild and mysterious place that is truly the world’s best kept secret. His voice is a perfect match for all the drama and soul-stirring beauty of this landscape, allowing audiences to connect with the untamed spirit of the wild South.”

Co-producer Thomas Winston of Grizzly Creek Films noted, “Jon’s ability to move between joy, wonder, and reflection makes him an ideal narrator for this story. He brings a unique perspective that amplifies the film’s message of appreciation and stewardship. American Amazon marks an exciting new chapter in our ongoing collaboration with Jon—and there’s more to come.”

The documentary, shot over the course of four years, reveals an ancient and mysterious landscape defined by towering two-thousand-year-old cypress trees, labyrinthine flooded forests, a network of wild rivers, and an astonishing array of wildlife, according to the release. “From the mass migration of swallow-tailed kites—the world’s only social raptor—to the elusive behaviors of American black bears in the swamp, the film uncovers a world teeming with life, discovery, and enduring surprises.”

“American Amazon shines a light on one of the most ecologically important and least understood regions in North America,” said Fred Kaufman, executive producer of Nature. “Jon brings a rare authenticity to this story. His voice captures not only the wonder of the natural world, but also the deep cultural connection between the people, places, and wildlife that make the American South so extraordinary.”

MacGillivray Freeman Films is recognized as the world’s leading independent producer and distributor of giant screen films. Its many productions include Superhuman Body (2024), Ireland (2022), Out Where the West Begins (2021), America’s Musical Journey (2018), National Parks Adventure (2016), and Journey to the South Pacific (2013).

“Having worked with Jon previously on our giant screen film America’s Musical Journey, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible artistry and range he brings to every project,” said Shaun MacGillivray, president of MacGillivray Freeman Films. “He is an extraordinary talent, and his ability to connect with audiences through music and storytelling makes him the perfect voice for American Amazon.”

Watch the trailer for American Amazon here:

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Prime Video Sets Access Doc Series On Peter Crouch & Abby Clancy

Published

11 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

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Cameras are going behind the scenes on the lives of Peter Crouch and Abby Clancy.

Prime Video has greenlit access doc series The Crouches, which will follow former footballer-turned- broadcaster Crouch and his wife, model and content creator Clancy, over a year.

The show, which is the second docu-series Prime Video has unveiled today at the Edinburgh TV Festival, will follow the couple as they prepare to move to a new home in need of renovation to accommodate the 6″7 Crouch. It also sees Crouch set off for the World Cup, leaving Clancy with their children and a building site, with Clancy looking to redress the power balance of their relationship as she turns 40.

Workerbee, which is part of Banijay UK, with Rick Murray, Ben Hirsch, Ben Mitchell and Demi Doyle the exec producers. Charlotte Taylor is the series producer and Simon Draper the series director.

This marks the second time Crouch, who played for clubs such as QPR and Liverpool before his career in broadcasting, has worked with Prime Video after That Peter Crouch Film in 2023.

“I absolutely loved making That Peter Crouch Film, so much so that this time I’ve somehow managed to drag Abbey and the whole family into it,” he said. “It’s a bit scary as it’s warts and all, but I’m sure you enjoy laughing with us – probably at us.

“There will be a lot of chaos and probably a few moments we’ll regret letting the cameras see, some ups and some downs, but it will be us. Our life should be lovely, calm and simple… it is not. Watch out Kardashians we are coming for you.”

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Prime Video To Adapt Stephen King Short Story ‘Crouch End’

Published

18 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

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Prime Video has greenlit a six-part limited series based on Stephen King’s Crouch End short story.

The series will also be titled Crouch End and produced in the UK. The official synopsis reads: “London never sleeps deeply, and its dreams are uneasy. When global movie star Doris Freeman bursts into a London police station claiming that strange phenomena are behind the disappearance of her husband, police inspector Ted Vetter must investigate whether she’s telling the truth, whether she could be a murderer, or whether there’s something even more chilling at play…”

The series will be adapted by Paul Tomalin (Bodies) and directed by Tom Shankland (Berlin Noir, The Serpent). The series producers will be Mammoth Screen (Hercule, The Serpent) and Fifth Season (East of Eden, Severance). Executive Producers are Paul Tomalin, Tom Shankland, Damien Timmer, Rebecca Keane and Ben Irving.

“I’ve been a Stephen King super-fan forever,” Shankland said in a statement.

“The chance to work with this great team and bring his utterly brilliant London mystery to life is beyond exciting – Crouch End will be cinematic, original and thought-provoking in equal measure.”

Nicole Clemens, VP of International Originals at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, added: “Stephen King is one of the defining storytellers of our time, and we’re thrilled to bring his Lovecraftian tale to life in London with Crouch End. Paul Tomalin brings a singular, character-driven vision to the series and, paired with Tom Shankland at the helm, plus the first-class production teams at Mammoth Screen and Fifth Season, this show will grip audiences worldwide with its visceral crime thriller and supernatural mystery.”