Diarra from Detroit is an American mystery dark comedy drama television series created by Diarra Kilpatrick and executive produced by Kilpatrick and Kenya Barris. The series stars Kilpatrick as a divorced schoolteacher who believes that she has been ghosted by her rebound Tinder date. Her search for the missing man pulls her into old mystery involving the Detroit underworld.[1]
| Diarra from Detroit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Diarra Kilpatrick |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | BET+ |
| Release | March 21, 2024 – present |
The series premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival on June 14, 2023.[2][3] It premiered on March 21, 2024, on BET+ to positive reviews from critics.[4]
Cast and characters
editMain
edit- Diarra Kilpatrick as Diarra Brickland
- Morris Chestnut as François "Swa" Brickland
- DomiNque Perry as Aja
- Claudia Logan as Moni
- Bryan Terrell Clark as Mr. Tea
- Shannon Wallace as Chris
- Jon Chaffin as Danger
- Phylicia Rashad as Vonda
Recurring
edit- David Zayas as Marshall[5]
- Julio Macias as Young Marshall[5]
- Harry Lennix as Walter Harley[5]
- Paul Ben-Victor as Zervas[5]
- Bechir Sylvain as Roman[5]
- Kash Doll as Maisha[5]
- John Salley as Tony Kincaid[5]
- Icewear Vezzo as Leroy[5]
- T.L. Flint as Spider[5]
- Teéa Loreál as Nia
Episodes
edit| No. | Title [6] | Directed by | Written by [7] | Original release date [6] | BET air date [6] | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Chasing Ghosts" | Chioke Nassor | Diarra Kilpatrick | March 21, 2024 | March 16, 2024 | N/A |
| 2 | "The Russian" | Chioke Nassor | Diarra Kilpatrick | March 21, 2024 | 2025 | N/A |
| 3 | "The One That Got Away" | Brennan Shroff | Diarra Kilpatrick & Mark Ganek | March 21, 2024 | 2025 | N/A |
| 4 | "All In" | Brennan Shroff | Diarra Kilpatrick & Jacob Copithorne | March 28, 2024 | 2025 | N/A |
| 5 | "Snapshots of a Rendezvous" | Sadé Clacken Joseph | Doug Hall & Lisa McQuillan | April 4, 2024 | 2025 | N/A |
| 6 | "Fishbones" | Sadé Clacken Joseph | Esa Lewis & Helen Krieger | April 11, 2024 | 2025 | N/A |
| 7 | "A Course In Miracles" | America Young | Teleplay by : Diarra Kilpatrick & Miles Orion Feldsott Story by : Diarra Kilpatrick & Miles Orion Feldsott & Ester Lou Weithers | April 18, 2024 | 2025 | N/A |
| 8 | "The House On Blaine" | America Young | Miles Orion Feldsott & Ester Lou Weithers | April 25, 2024 | 2025 | N/A |
Production
editOn March 21, 2023, it was announced that BET+ ordered eight-episode straight-to-series project Diarra from Detroit created by Diarra Kilpatrick.[8] The series produced by BET Studios and Khalabo Ink Society.[9] In June, Morris Chestnut, DomiNque Perry, Claudia Logan, Bryan Terrell Clark, Phylicia Rashad, Shannon Wallace and Jon Chaffin have joined the main cast.[10][11]
Principal photography began in February 2023 in Secaucus, New Jersey and Moonachie, New Jersey.[12][13]
Reception
editCritical response
editOn Rotten Tomatoes, it has a rating of 100% based on 13 reviews.[14] Aramide Tinubu from Variety gave it positive review writing: “Diarra From Detroit is multilayered, and might have been a hodgepodge of confusion in less capable hands. However, Kilpatrick and her writers execute the dramedy flawlessly... Diarra From Detroit works because it’s unlike anything seen on television in recent years. As much as the audience wants to know what happened to Chris and whether Diarra misread Francois’ intentions, questions and revelations concerning the cold case also make for a spectacularly paced whodunit, especially as Diarra begins pulling her reluctant friends into her fatigued-fueled shenanigans. Refreshing, captivating and unapologetically Black, the series is about finding the courage to actively participate in your own life even when that means doing the absolute most."[15] Angie Han from The Hollywood Reporter also gave it positive review praising Kilpatrick' performance.[16] Nandini Balial from RogerEbert.com also praised performances, especially from Kilpatrick, Clark, Perry and Logan, writing and creative costumes.[17]
Accolades
edit| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Reel Awards | 2024 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Diarra from Detroit | Nominated | [18] |
| Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series | Diarra Kilpatrick | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series | Chioke Nassor | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series | Phylicia Rashad | Won |
References
edit- ^ Callahan, Yesha (April 28, 2023). "Diarra Kilpatrick Is Detroit Through and Through". BET.
- ^ "Diarra from Detroit | 2023 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca Film Festival.
- ^ Frederick, Candice (June 20, 2023). "This Was The Unexpected Standout At Tribeca Film Festival". HuffPost.
- ^ "BET+ Unveils Trailer for Upcoming Series Diarra from Detroit Starring Diarra Kilpatrick, Morris Chestnut, Phylicia Rashad and More". Blex Media. February 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Video: BET+ Original Series - "Diarra From Detroit" - Trailer". BET. February 1, 2024 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ a b c "Shows A-Z – Diarra from Detroit on BET+". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "Diarra from Detroit". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (March 21, 2023). "Diarra Kilpatrick Strikes Overall Deal With BET, Lands Straight-To-Series Order For Dark Comedy At BET+". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Obie, Brooke (April 7, 2019). "The Best Of Enemies, Worst Of White Savior Movies [Review]". Blavity.
- ^ Petski, Denise (June 6, 2023). "Morris Chestnut, DomiNque Perry, Claudia Logan & Bryan Terrell Clark Join BET+'s Diarra From Detroit". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Petski, Denise (June 8, 2023). "Phylicia Rashad, Shannon Wallace & Jon Chaffin Join BET's Diarra From Detroit". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Baldwin, Carly (February 23, 2023). "Diarra From Detroit Movie Filming At AJ's In Secaucus". Patch Media.
- ^ James (March 17, 2023). "Upcoming BET show Diarra From Detroit, shot here in Moonachie and throughout New Jersey". The Ridgewood Blog.
- ^ "Diarra From Detroit: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
- ^ Tinubu, Aramide (March 21, 2024). "BET+'s Hilariously Chaotic 'Diarra From Detroit' Is a P.I. Drama With Flair: TV Review".
- ^ Han, Angie (March 20, 2024). "'Diarra From Detroit' Review: BET+'s Mystery-Comedy Serves as a Sparkling Showcase for Creator-Star Diarra Kilpatrick".
- ^ Balial, Nandini. "BET+'s Diarra from Detroit Successfully Blends Comedy & Mystery | TV/Streaming | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (June 14, 2024). "Black Reel TV Awards Unveils 2024 Nominees: Nat Geo's 'Genius: MLK/X' Tops The Crop With 14".