Snapchat has ordered a new series from Jaden Smith as part of its election year programming.
Smith will host The Solution Committee, in which he seeks out young activists and his celebrity friends to help him create change around racial and social justice issues. In the eight-episode series, Smith will unpack such topics as criminal justice reform, voting access, climate change and education reform.
His guests will include Hailey Bieber, Common, sister Willow Smith, Janelle Monáe, Phoebe Robinson, Yara Shahidi and Lena Waithe.
The Solution Committee, produced by Westbrook Media, premieres Sept. 21 ahead of National Voter Registration Day. Each episode will be enabled with Snapchat’s swipe-up feature, which will take viewers directly to a page where they can register to vote. It’s part of an effort at the company to drive awareness around the election for its 100 million U.S. uses, 80 percent of whom are 18 or 0lder. A Snap spokeswoman says the company has helped 475,000 Snapchatters register to vote this year.
“Historically people between the ages of 18 to 23 have been less likely to vote,” Smith said in a statement. “This is because a lot of young people feel like they don’t have the information or know where to get it. This show is about educating the youth and making sure they feel empowered and ready to vote.”
The first two episodes of the show will focus on voting with the help of Bieber, Shahidi and activists Gabe Fleisher and Winter BreeAnne.
“Snap is committed to bringing our community shows that connect them to the issues they care about most,” said Snap head of content Sean Mills. “We’re inspired by the work of Jaden and these young activists to spark real conversation and action that can create change, and we are thrilled to partner again with Westbrook Media to bring this powerful series to Snapchat.”
This is Snapchat’s second show from Westbrook Media. The first, Will From Home, premiered this spring and, per Snapchat, was watched by more than 35 million of its users.
Smith is represented by WME, Three Six Zero Group and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
