Reginald Hudlin

Reginald Alan Hudlin (born December 15, 1961) is an American film screenwriter, director, producer, and comic-book writer.

Along with his older brother Warrington Hudlin, he is known as one of the Hudlin Brothers.

In 1979, Hudlin graduated from Assumption High School in East St. Louis.

While an undergraduate at Harvard University, Hudlin directed his thesis project, a short film called House Party, which received numerous awards including first place at the Black American Cinema Society Awards.

The film was inspired by his experience growing up in East St. Louis.

They additionally created the "Hey Love" 1980s TV commercial for a various-artists compilation record, that played regularly on late night TV.

In 1983, Hudlin graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a B.A. in Visual and Environmental Studies.

His short film thesis was the basis for his first feature film, House Party.

After college, Hudlin and his brother formed a production company and made music videos for such artists as Heavy D, Jamaica Boys, and others.

Hudlin's breakout film was 1990's House Party.

Hudlin directed—with older brother Warrington producing—his first feature-length film, 1990's low-budget teen hip-hop comedy House Party, which starred Kid 'n Play.

One of the messages of the film was its promotion of safe sex.

The film, distributed by New Line Cinema, was, according to Variety, one of the most profitable films of the decade.

New Line wanted to make sequels, but the Hudlins did not feel the compensation or deals were adequate.

He also directed the 1992 film Boomerang.

Hudlin directed 1992's Boomerang, again with older brother Warrington producing.

The film was a big-budget romantic comedy that starred Eddie Murphy, who had a term deal at Paramount Pictures and hired the Hudlin Brothers because he liked House Party. It starred an all-black cast that included Robin Givens, Halle Berry, Martin Lawrence, David Alan Grier, and Chris Rock.

Boomerang was based on an original idea by Murphy and was written by Saturday Night Live writers Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield.

In 1992, while making Boomerang, Hudlin wrote the animated film, Bébé's Kids, which was championed by Paramount's Brandon Tartikoff, and was made in memory of comedian Robin Harris, who had died in 1990.

Alongside Warrington, he executive produced the 1994 anthology television film Cosmic Slop, and directed the first of the film's three segments, "Space Traders".

In 1994, the Hudlin Brothers produced the HBO anthology television film Cosmic Slop, of which Hudlin directed the segment "Space Traders".

The segment is an adaptation of the short story "The Space Traders" by Derrick Bell, found in Bell's book Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism.

He then directed The Great White Hype, The Ladies Man, Serving Sara (2002), two episodes of the TV series Modern Family, an episode of The Office, an episode of The Middle, and several episodes of Outsourced.

He was also a recurring producer and director of The Bernie Mac Show for three years.

From 2005 to 2008, Hudlin was President of Entertainment for Black Entertainment Television (BET).

Hudlin has also written numerous graphic novels.

From 2005 to 2008, Hudlin was the President of Entertainment for BET.

Notable shows shepherded by Hudlin at that time included the documentary series American Gangster and Sunday Best, a gospel-music singing-competition show.

Hudlin created The BET Honors and the BET Hip Hop Awards.

Hudlin wrote the Marvel Comics series Black Panther from 2005 to 2008, including the 2006 storyline "Bride of the Panther," which saw the character marry X-Men leader Storm.

Hudlin worked as a producer on the 2012 film Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Hudlin was born in Centreville, Illinois, the son of two teachers.

Hudlin's older brother, Warrington Hudlin, is also a film director, as well as an actor and producer.

The Hudlins grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois, where the family had deep roots.

The Hudlin Brothers are paternal great-great-grandsons of Peter and Nancy Hudlin, who were part of the Underground Railroad.

Their great uncle was tennis instructor Richard A. Hudlin, who mentored Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson.

The Hudlins attended Katherine Dunham's Center for the Performing Arts, an experimental school, Warrington for high school and Reginald for after school martial arts classes.

Hudlin has said that the experience was formative, and led to his older brother attending Yale University, and his attending Harvard University.

He co-produced the 88th Academy Awards ceremony in 2016 as well as other TV specials.

A celebration of the 25th anniversary of Boomerang's release was held on July 1, 2017, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., with a conversation between Hudlin and producer George Alexander.