Actress and musician Andy Allo has recently been cast in the lead role of Effa Manley in the upcoming limited series “The Eagles of Newark.” The series, based on the non-fiction book “Queen of the Negro Leagues: Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles” by James Overmyer, will be helmed by writer-producer-showrunner Mike Flynn and directed by Anya Adams.
Effa Manley, the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, was a trailblazing civil rights activist who, along with her husband Abe, took on the challenge of starting their own baseball club in the tumultuous world of the Negro Baseball Leagues. The series will explore Effa’s role as the team’s business manager and her significant impact as a social rights advocate.
Alcon Television Group, the production company behind the series, is set to pitch the show to various networks and streaming platforms in the near future. Co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove expressed their excitement about bringing Effa Manley’s story to the screen, highlighting her groundbreaking contributions to both baseball and civil rights history.
Mike Flynn, known for his work on shows like “East New York” and “Queen Sugar,” will serve as executive producer alongside Andy Allo and Anya Adams. The team is dedicated to honoring Effa Manley’s legacy and shedding light on her historical impact in the sports industry.
In a statement, Andy Allo shared her enthusiasm for portraying Effa Manley, describing it as the role of a lifetime. She emphasized the importance of sharing Manley’s story with audiences and recognizing her advocacy for equity for Black Americans and Black athletes.
Other executive producers on the project include Byron Motley, Jeffrey Miiller, Josh Green, and Caleeb Pinkett of TwentyFive8. Ben Roberts of Alcon Television Group secured the rights to the story and will also serve as an executive producer alongside Kosove and Johnson. Ben Cook is set to produce the series.
The creative team behind “The Eagles of Newark” is represented by various agencies, including Gersh, 3 Arts, Ginsburg Daniels LLP, and Circle Management + Production. The series is set to bring Effa Manley’s remarkable story to life, highlighting her resilience, advocacy, and lasting impact on the world of sports and civil rights.
