June 30, 2025
Malcolm D. Lee talks about extending ‘The Finest Man’ universe and the way every character has ‘extra story to inform.’
Malcolm D. Lee’s artistry is ingrained into the material of Black tradition. Lee created “The Finest Man,” and it’s now an over $100 million franchise. The franchise has been prolonged right into a tv collection and a guide trilogy, titled “The Finest Man Unfinished Enterprise.”
The story of Harper, Robin, Jordan, Quentin, Murch, Lance, Mia, Candice, and Shelby has been ongoing for 25 years. The Amazon collection “The Closing Chapters” was slated to be the top, but there’s extra to come back. Lee spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE concerning the literary extension of the Finest Man’s messy but loving good friend group. Certainly, there’s “unfinished enterprise” to be explored.
BE: What made you say, “You recognize what, the collection is just not the ultimate chapters in spite of everything?”
Malcolm D. Lee: I assumed we have been completed. It was extremely troublesome to carry collectively all these actors. I don’t know if we will try this once more, and I didn’t assume I had any extra story to inform.
However I’ve at all times cherished the written phrase. I’ve lengthy fantasized about writing a novel. So, I assumed, this is likely to be a possibility to strive my hand at it with characters that persons are already accustomed to.
BE: Harper’s profession is prospering; nobody’s asking if he “wants some cash.” Emotionally, he’s nonetheless spiraling. Why did you select to let his emotional development lag up to now behind his skilled success throughout the franchise?
LEE: Harper was at all times hyper-focused on profession success. He was a serial monogamist and targeted on attending to the highest of being validated as an writer. He forgot to maintain dwelling. In a considerable means, it value him his marriage and a robust relationship along with his daughter.
Now he’s dwelling that bachelor way of life, but it’s form of hole and empty. He feels misplaced in his life along with his good friend group, who’ve all emotionally matured. It was an excellent examination of attaining success, however what do it’s important to present for it on the finish of the day?
BE: In ‘Unfinished Enterprise,’ Harper’s engaged on a movie adaptation. Collaboration in movie isn’t as simple as writing a guide solo. Is that your private tackle the artistic course of?
Lee: I wished to verify that is literary. I can have limitless creativeness about what I wish to do, and it offers you a chance to essentially delve into these characters’ minds in a means that we haven’t gotten to expertise on the massive and the small display screen. You get to make use of all 5 senses. In a film, you solely have sights and sound. Now you get really feel, contact, scent, and style.
BE: Let’s speak about Jordan “motherf**king” Armstrong. She reconfigures her life and hits a wall. Will we ever see her really win?
Lee: A number of ladies see themselves in Jordan. Lastly, on the finish of the ultimate chapters, she selected herself. She has discovered love of self. She is in remedy, making an attempt to get the solutions to why she is the best way she is. She and Harper are very parallel.
BE: Robin’s nonetheless in Africa. Why did she not come again into the fold?
Lee: Robin selected herself. She determined, I need higher for myself apart from this relationship that I give, give, and provides to. Additionally, she didn’t wish to be in America anymore. She was bored with combating for a rustic that wasn’t combating again for her.
Additionally, these have been, by and enormous, Harper’s mates. She made room for everyone. Now she has to make room for herself.
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The primary version within the “Unfinished Enterprise” trilogy facilities on Jordan, Robin, and Harper. Nevertheless, make no mistake, the total solid of characters is current. The characters leap off the web page as if they have been on display screen. Audiences can be irritated with Harper, amused by Quentin, happy with Jordan, and grounded by Lance. The crew is again. Get into the “unfinished enterprise” of all of it July 1.
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