We at GWW have gotten some details on the fourth episode of the upcoming Apple show ‘Little America.’ The immigration anthology series is from Kumail Nanjiani & Emily V. Gordon (‘The Big Sick’), Alan Yang (‘Master of None’) and Lee Eisenberg (‘The Office’). Eisenberg is also the showrunner.
Moreover, the series has a half-hour format, and the season will be eight episodes total.
The premise is below:
“Apple’s ‘Little America’ is based on the true stories included in the Epic Magazine feature of the same name, and will go beyond the headlines to look at the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring and surprising stories of immigrants in America at a time when they are more relevant than ever.”
Episode four, currently under the title ‘Shadi,’ will be filming seven consecutive days between March 2019 and April 2019, in New Jersey.
Now, here are the character breakdowns:
Shadi
“Character portrayed is early 20s, Male. A gay Syrian man from a close-knit family in the rustic village of Qardha. Quiet, sensitive and handsome, he is well groomed with a muscular physique. When his father learns that he is gay, he must flee for his life to Damascus and then Jordan. Shadi dreams of asylum in America but lives in constant fear of exposure, violence, and death. Arabic (Levantine) is his primary language but he starts to learn some English in anticipation of life in America. MUST BE FLUENT IN ARABIC. LEAD. ONE EPISODE.”
Samir
“Character portrayed is 20s, Male. A flamboyant Iraqi force of nature who can’t conceal his essential gayness if he wanted to – which he doesn’t, so he’s forced to flee Iraq for Damascus while he waits for asylum in America. Shadi’s first gay friend, he shows him a possible life he couldn’t imagine. Uses wit and humor as a shield and as a weapon. Primarily speaks Iraqi Arabic but is also semi-fluent in English and feels comfortable speaking English with others. MUST BE FLUENT IN ARABIC. LEAD. ONE EPISODE.”
Ghazal
“Character portrayed is 40s, Middle Eastern, Female. This tiny Syrian woman owns a California-style restaurant in Damascus. Radiating a warm maternal energy, she is fond and protective of her two gay employees, Sam and Shadi, but fears that the openly gay Sam is headed for trouble. MUST SPEAK ARABIC FLUENTLY. GUEST STAR.”
Bassam
“Character portrayed is 40s, Middle Eastern, Male. Shadi’s stern but loving Syrian father, he’s horrified to catch his son in a homosexual tryst. He thinks he’s doing his duty by Shadi when he holds his arm over an open flame, badly burning him. MUST SPEAK ARABIC. CO-STAR. 2 scenes.”
Cafe Owner
“Character portrayed is 50s, Middle Eastern, Male. This gruff and grumpy Jordanian owner of a cyber cafe is always dunning the broke Shadi for the money he owes. He is later surprised when Shadi is approved to go to the U.S. MUST SPEAK ARABIC FLUENTLY. CO-STAR. 3 scenes.”
Bibi
“Character portrayed is 70s, Middle Eastern, Female. Shadi’s Syrian, vibrant, chain-smoking grandmother, she is ecstatic when her other grandson announces his engagement. A funny, warm and loving head of the household. MUST SPEAK ARABIC. CO-STAR. 1 scene.”
Junaid
“Character portrayed is early 20s, Middle Eastern, Male. Syrian, he’s Shadi’s younger brother, who proudly announces his engagement at a family gathering. MUST SPEAK ARABIC. CO-STAR. 1 scene.”
Areej
“Character portrayed is 40s, Middle Eastern, Female. She’s Shadi’s energetic Syrian aunt, who is delighted to hear of Junaid’s engagement. MUST SPEAK ARABIC. CO-STAR. 1 scene.”
Lamma
“Character portrayed is early 20s, Middle Eastern, Female. A beautiful young Syrian woman in a headscarf, she is Junaid’s bride-to-be. MUST SPEAK ARABIC. CO-STAR. 1 scene.”
Tamim
“Character portrayed is 40, Middle Eastern, Male. This large, masculine, gentle Syrian man has a sexual encounter with Shadi in an abandoned property. MUST SPEAK ARABIC. CO-STAR. 1 scene.”
Man
“Character portrayed is 40s, Middle Eastern, Male. This Syrian man mutters “pansy” under his breath as he encounters Sam on a Damascus street. MUST SPEAK ARABIC. CO-STAR. 1 line.”
Male Patron
“Character portrayed is 50s, Middle Eastern, Male. This patron in a Damascus restaurant, he observes Sam and his overt behavior with obvious disapproval. CO-STAR. 1 scene, no lines.”
Imam
“Character portrayed is 50s, Middle Eastern, Male. This Imam delivers a sermon in a Damascus mosque about the consequences of those who live “indecent lives”. MUST SPEAK ARABIC FLUENTLY. CO-STAR. 1 speech.”
Alvaro
“Character portrayed is 30s, Middle Eastern, Male. This handsome man with a disarming charm is Sam’s gay friend. Enigmatically sexy, he enjoys a drunken evening out on the town in Damascus with Sam and Shadi. MUST SPEAK ARABIC. CO-STAR. 3 scenes, 3 lines.”
Bartender
“Character portrayed is 30s-40s, Middle Eastern, Male. This judgmental, homophobic Damascus bartender tells Sam and Shadi that they are closing so that they’ll leave the bar. MUST SPEAK ARABIC. CO-STAR. 1 line.”
Meanwhile, ‘Little America’ does not have a premiere date yet. The Apple streaming service is likely launching this summer or fall.