Oscar-Winning Director Matthew Cherry Signs Deal With Warner Bros.
His animated short, ‘Hair Love,’ made waves at the 2020 Oscars.
Director Matthew Cherry, whose film Hair Love won an Oscar for Best Animated Short, has signed a development deal with Warner Bros. Television Group. Under the multi-year agreement, Cherry will create original TV series for platforms including cable and streaming.
Hair Love, a heartwarming tale of a Black father who attempts to style his daughter’s hair for the first time, was widely lauded for addressing the lack of Black representation in animation. Cherry also hoped to combat harmful stereotypes with the film: “Black fathers get one of the worst raps in terms of stereotypes — we’re deadbeats, we’re not around,” he told the New York Times.
With his new deal, Cherry will have the opportunity to further champion marginalized voices. “I am beyond excited to be joining the Warner Bros. Television family in this exciting new capacity,” the filmmaker told Variety. “It’s an important time to be a Black creative working in this industry, and I look forward to creating impactful projects and partnering with other talented marginalized voices in our community.”
