The series is executive produced by Laurence Fishburne!
Raphael Saadiq has been named executive music producer of Marvel’s new “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” animated series, Marvel reports.
Saadiq is a beloved songwriter, producer, and multi-hyphenate musician. He has produced classic hits across pop, hip hop, and R&B for artists including John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Solange, Mary J. Blige, and Elton John. The three-time Grammy Award winner is revered for his musical abilities and knowledge and is no stranger to scoring some of Hollywood’s most celebrated soundtracks. Most recently, he served as executive music producer for National Geographic’s limited series "Genius: Aretha."
Now Saadiq is back with a new cultural offering, announcing his role as executive music producer of Marvel’s new animated series "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" while sitting on a panel at ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans.
“I am proud to be working with Disney Branded Television on this groundbreaking new series featuring a female African American Super Hero, who is smart, funny, compassionate, and a born leader. I look forward to helping the creative team bring the show to life through music,” said Saadiq.
The series follows 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette aka Moon Girl and her 10-ton companion, a T-Rex named Devil Dinosaur. Together, the duo try to protect New York’s Lower East Side from danger. Saadiq will lend his talents to the series to bring the animation flavor, reflecting New York’s many cultures and communities through sound, blending scores of hip-hop, pop, R&B, jazz, funk, Latin, reggae, etc.
The series is based on Marvel’s hit comic books and features Diamond White (Pinky Malinky) as the voice of Lunella, Alfre Woodard (Clemency) as Lunella’s grandmother Mimi, Libe Barer (Sneaky Pete) as Lunella’s best friend and manager Casey, Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live) as Lunella’s mom Adria, Jermaine Fowler (Coming 2 America) as her dad James Jr., Gary Anthony Williams (The Boondocks) as Lunella’s grandfather Pops, Fred Tatasciore (Kung Fu Panda) as Devil Dinosaur and Laurence Fishburne (John Wick Chapter 4) as The Beyonder, a mischievous trickster.
Fishburne serves as executive producer alongside Helen Sugland’s Cinema Gypsy Productions (black-ish) and Steve Loter (Kim Possible). "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" is produced by Disney Branded Television and is slated to premiere in 2023 on Disney Channel and Disney+. Check out the video featurette spotlighting Saadiq and the series music below.
Congratulations, Raphael! We're looking forward to supporting your new work.
Photo Courtesy of Moses Mitchell/Variety/Marvel