The entertainment industry is about to experience a major shift with the launch of Je’Caryous Johnson Studios (JJS), a new Black-led entertainment powerhouse built to reshape storytelling and opportunity for Black artists. At the center of this ambitious venture is Je’Caryous Johnson, a writer, director, producer, and promoter whose ability to merge spectacle with cultural significance has drawn over 3 million fans to his live stage productions. His work, including Married But Single, Redemption of a Dogg, Set It Off Live, and New Jack City Live, has set a precedent for how Black stories are told across multiple platforms. Now, with the launch of JJS, Johnson is taking his creative empire to the next level.
Je’Caryous Johnson Studios is more than just a production company—it is designed as an incubation hub for Black talent, offering artists an unprecedented opportunity to expand their reach beyond a single medium. Actors, writers, and creatives who sign on with JJS will be able to move seamlessly between film, theater, podcasts, live events, television, and digital platforms. Johnson envisions the studio as a space where Black artists can not only tell their stories but also build a legacy across multiple entertainment industries. This 360-degree approach to storytelling will allow talent to work within an ecosystem that nurtures creativity, fosters ownership, and centers Black voices in ways Hollywood rarely does.
The first project under JJS is The Paralegal, a high-stakes psychological thriller that will mark Johnson’s feature film directorial debut. The film follows a lawyer who finds himself being blackmailed by a deranged paralegal, who is determined to strip him of everything—except his wife. Production is set to begin in March, making The Paralegal the first of three to five feature films JJS will release annually. Each project will range in budget and genre but remain deeply rooted in authentic Black storytelling. JJS will also function as a full-service production company, handling script development, financing, production, and distribution, ensuring complete creative control over the films it brings to life.
For Johnson, the creation of JJS is not just about producing content—it’s about creating a home for Black artists to thrive without the limitations traditionally imposed by Hollywood. He has spent years developing a vault of over 120 finished screenplays and TV episodes and plans to acquire Hollywood IPs to reimagine them through a fresh, Black-forward lens. He sees JJS as a studio that will not just create movies but cultural events, telling stories that both entertain and challenge the industry’s status quo.
“This isn’t just about creating movies or producing stage plays,” Johnson explained. “This is about building a home where Black talent can thrive, innovate, and amplify their voices like never before. Je’Caryous Johnson Studios is where Black artists can fully realize their creative visions and leave a legacy that will inspire generations. This is the future of entertainment.”
In addition to launching its film slate, JJS will debut with a major live theatrical event: Jason’s Lyric Live. Based on Bobby Smith Jr.’s cult-classic screenplay, the production will launch in February 2025 with a 22-city national tour, bringing the story’s poetic and emotional depth to a new generation of theatergoers. Featuring a star-studded cast including Allen Payne, Treach, Eva Marcille, K. Michelle, Tyrin Turner, Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, and Victoria Rowell, the production will serve as an introduction to JJS’ multi-platform storytelling approach—one where film, theater, and live experiences intersect to create immersive cultural moments.
With the launch of Je’Caryous Johnson Studios, Black storytelling has a new home—one that isn’t waiting for permission from Hollywood to tell bold, authentic, and transformative stories. Johnson isn’t just creating a studio; he’s building a new blueprint for how Black artists control their narratives, shape their careers, and leave an impact that extends far beyond the screen and stage. If the industry isn’t ready, they better catch up—because JJS is about to change the game.
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