In the span of only a few days, Martin Lawrence has been cast in a new television series. Demascus, a new AMC sci-fi comedy, will include Lawrence as a recurring character, according to The Hollywood Reporter. A sick cousin of Demascus’, Lawrence will appear in three of the six episodes as Uncle Forty, who tries to maintain his role as the family patriarch in the face of illness. As a “33-year-old Black guy who starts on a voyage of self-discovery using an ingenious new technology that enables him to experience numerous versions of his own life,” Demascus stars in the AMC series.
A “comedic” title doesn’t mean that Demascus isn’t going to touch on some very important subjects. It’s only that the show will do it from the perspective of different worlds. Lawrence joins Okieriete Onaodowan, who was originally confirmed as the protagonist, in the cast. Also notable is Onaodowan’s involvement as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s theatrical production of Hamilton, where he originated the roles of both characters.
On Broadway in 2017 as Pierre, he replaced Josh Groban in the role of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Further, Janet Hubert, Caleb Eberhart (Judas and the Black Messiah), and Shakira Ja’nai Paye have all been confirmed for Demascus (All Day and a Night). Lawrence has made a name for himself on the big and small screens both as an actor and comedian. Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing was his feature picture debut, followed by roles in the Bad Boys trilogy with Will Smith.
When he was last seen on television, he was co-starring with Kelsey Grammar in FX’s Partners in 2014. John Malkovich co-stars in Lawrence’s upcoming picture, Mindcage, which is presently untitled. Actor Tearrance Arvelle Crisholm, the creator of the play Demascus, was revealed as part of a partnership between the studio and authors to produce and greenlight whole seasons rather than just a single pilot episode in February. AMC CEO Dan McDermott has previously described Demascus as a “genuine and fascinating examination of being a Black man in America, with a rich & complete character as our guide”. Despite the lack of a confirmed launch date, AMC and AMC+ are expected to air Demascus in 2023.