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EXCLUSIVE: Jada Pinkett Smith (_The Matrix Resurrections_) has signed on to star in _Redd Zone_, a new Netflix drama from Emmy-nominated screenwriter Kristin Layne Tucker (_A Black Lady
Sketch Show_), Oscar-winning director Matthew A. Cherry (_Hair Love_) and Westbrook Studios. Based on a true story, _Redd Zone_ follows Tia Magee (Smith), a single mother who steps forward
to help her sons and their high school football teammates, “The Bros,” heal after the murder of their best friend, Dominic Redd. One by one, The Bros start moving into her house, and soon 17
are living under her roof. Eventually, all The Bros go to college, with four making it to the NFL. The film is dedicated to Redd’s memory, and to the powerful impact he had on his
community. Smith, Miguel Melendez and Westbrook Studios’ Co-President and Head of Motion Pictures Jon Mone will produce, with Emmy nominee Howard Burkons and former NFL linebacker and MLB
outfielder Brandon Magee serving as exec producers. Ryan Shimazaki is overseeing the project on behalf of Westbrook Studios. Smith is an actress, writer, director and producer who recently
reprised her role as Niobe for Lana Wachowski’s _The Matrix Resurrections_, after appearing in the sci-fi franchise’s second and third installments, _The Matrix Reloaded_ and _The Matrix
Revolutions_. She has also appeared in films including _Angel Has Fallen_, _Girls Trip_, _Bad Moms_, _Magic Mike XXL_, _The Human Contract_, _Reign Over Me_, _Collateral_, _Ali_,
_Bamboozled_ and_ The Nutty Professor_, finding notable roles on the TV side in Fox’s _Gotham_, TNT’s_ Hawthorne_ and more. She founded both Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook Studios
with her husband, Will Smith, also exec producing and toplining in the latter’s popular Facebook Watch talk show, _Red Table Talk_, which has her sit down with family and friends for candid
conversations on a wide variety of topics. Cherry is a writer, director, producer and former NFL player who is perhaps best known for his film _Hair Love_, which won the Academy Award for
Best Animated Short in 2020. He raised nearly $300,000 for that project via the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, which was the highest amount gathered there for any short film. Cherry has
directed episodes of series including _Kenan_, _Saved by the Bell_, _The Wonder Years_, _The Unicorn_,_ Black-ish_, _Mixed-ish_, _The Last O.G._ and_ Whisky Cavalier_, also co-producing _The
Last O.G._ and exec producing Spike Lee’s Oscar winner _BlacKkKlansman_. Other projects he has in the works include the animated musical series _Battu_, which he is developing alongside
Chaz Bottoms for Cartoon Network Studios; Janine Sherman Barrois’ OWN drama _The Kings of Napa_, which he is directing; the 2D-animated series _Young Love_, based on characters from _Hair
Love_, that he created for HBO Max; and comedy heist film _The Come Up_, which he is directing for New Line. Tucker last year landed her first Emmy nomination for her contributions to the
writing of HBO’s A _Black Lady Sketch Show_. She was also recently tapped as a writer for the second season of HBO Max’s acclaimed comedic thriller, _The Flight Attendant_. Pinkett Smith is
represented by WME and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Cherry is repped by ICM Partners, Blue Key Management and attorney R. Vaughn Gill. Tucker is with 3 Arts Entertainment.