Casting for the TV series "Harlem Reign," a story about friends living in Harlem.
1. If you're 40, please don’t audition for the role of a 22-year-old college student.
2. Don’t email without including a picture and resume. Emails missing these will not get a response.
We are looking for actors with specific appearances for this project.
"Harlem Reign" is set in the vibrant community of Harlem, highlighting its culture and people through the lives of lifelong friends. The series features flashbacks to their childhood and explores how their relationships have evolved over time.
These friends, raised in working-class Harlem, are now educated and dynamic individuals in their 20s and 30s. They are ambitious and intelligent, but also face personal fears and flaws. The story follows Julian and his close-knit group of friends as they navigate life as young Generation X Harlemites.
Casting for the TV series "Harlem Reign," a story about friends living in Harlem.
1. If you're 40, please don’t audition for the role of a 22-year-old college student.
2. Don’t email without including a picture and a resume. Emails missing these will not get a response.
We are looking for actors with specific appearances for this project.
1. Please don't be a 40-year-old, thinking you can play a 22-year-old college student.
2. Do not send us an email saying who you want to be a part of or how interested you are in being a part without a picture or a resume. We will not reply to you without a visual or a resume.
We are looking for specific looks in the actors for this project.As well as strong actors
Characters:
Julian McWilliams, the lead character, is a brilliant mathematical genius from Harlem. A proud graduate of HBCU Lincoln University, he completed his degree in just three years. Julian is kind, witty, and driven by a desire to make the world a better place.
He is the go-to person in his group when anyone needs guidance or a sense of purpose. A devoted Knicks fan with a rebellious streak, he questions authority and carves his own path. Currently pursuing his Ph.D. at NYU, Julian balances his studies by working with his professor, Dr. Walton, to make ends meet. He harbors a secret crush on his childhood friend Charlette while navigating the challenges of dating and finding his place in academia.
Paolo Glaude (Co-Lead) is a charming ladies’ man and Julian's lifelong best friend. Julian has always been the one to talk Paolo off the ledge. Paolo constantly searches for the right woman but tends to pick the wrong ones. He's funny, a graduate of Alabama A&M with a degree in biology, and loves languages, so the actor needs to love languages.
Charlette Hopkins (Co-Lead) is strikingly beautiful, and all the guys treat her like their sister. She’s the only one in the group who has successfully taken her career to the next level, as she is on track to become a highly sought-after lawyer. A hopeless romantic, many believe she and Julian would make a perfect couple. She loves jazz and culture and is still dealing with the abandonment issues caused by her mother. (This actress must be dark-skinned and beautiful.)
Ms. Hopkins (Cast) is Charlotte’s mother, who, at 45, is still trying to find herself. This role requires a strong actress with a solid theater background.
Dr. Waltons (Cast) is an actor in his late 40s to early 50s who sees himself in Julian and always encourages him to make wise decisions. He’s a total nerd but can recite hip-hop lyrics off the top of his head.
P.J. Kidd (Co-Lead) is a stickler for punctuality and respect. A graduate of Morehouse College with a C.P.A. and a master’s in accounting and taxation from Columbia University, he has always planned his life meticulously. Within the group, he is financially successful due to his achievements in investing and his constant search for the next big opportunity. He is deeply in love with his childhood girlfriend, whom he met when they were seven years old.
Coretta Scotland: From a well-connected Harlem family, Coretta attended top private schools and always had endless opportunities, yet she remains deeply grounded and tied to the community. A Spelman University graduate with a law degree from Howard University, she is passionately in love with P.J.
Kenny Carr: Always the contrarian, Kenny challenges the group whenever possible. A streetwise individual, he fights against the establishment and accuses his friends of being part of it. His determination lies in keeping Harlem under the control of the black community as it undergoes change.
Tina Yancy: Kenny's girlfriend and a Howard University law school graduate, Tina is dedicated to fighting for Harlem residents to preserve their homes and foster local businesses. Soft-spoken yet commanding, she is fully devoted to Kenny and their shared cause.
Bryan Wright: Cocky and detached, Bryan has known the group his whole life but lacks any emotional or moral connection to Harlem, caring only about money and power. The lone non-HBCU graduate (Cornell University) and proud of it, he preaches unity among black people while betraying them for personal gain. Living on the Upper East Side, he visits Harlem solely to profit from it. He speaks black and lives a very white lifestle.A former college athlete, he should be 6'2"–6'4" and capable of playing basketball. He harbors a significant crush on Charlette.
Mr. Galaxy: An older gentleman with a 1970s hip-hop hippie vibe, always sharing wisdom and giving Julian a fresh perspective. He tells captivating stories that make Julian and everyone around him reflect and wonder.
Gary McWilliams (Cast): Julian's younger brother, aged 17-19, constantly asks endless questions to Julian and his friends. He’s often in places he shouldn’t be, and Julian frequently covers for him with their parents. Inquisitive and fun-loving, Gary shares a strong and playful brotherly bond with Julian.
Dr. Michael Kingston (AKA Big Mike): A bodybuilder and owner of the local gym where all the characters work out. With a PhD in Exercise Physiology from City College after attending Virginia Union, he’s a mix of brains and brawn. Known for quoting Shakespeare and showing off his physique, he’s charming and polite, drawing plenty of attention from the ladies. Always scheming to grow his business, he wears minimal gym gear and creates a lively atmosphere wherever he is.
Actors interested in auditioning should let us know which character(s) they’d like to portray. Please provide a resume or a picture, and reels if available. Singing and dancing skills are a plus. We’re also casting dancers and singers for club scenes. Strong theater backgrounds are ideal. Production is set to begin in late 2025.