"ON THE COME UP," SANAA LATHAN'S FEATURE DIRECTORIAL DEBUT, TO PREMIERE SEPT. 23, EXCLUSIVELY ON PARAMOUNT+

Presented by Paramount+ in Association with Paramount Pictures' Players Label, Film to World Premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival

July 27, 2022 - Paramount+ today announced that its upcoming original film ON THE COME UP, from Paramount Pictures' Players label, will exclusively premiere on the service Friday, Sept. 23 in the U.S., Canada, Italy, and later in the year in additional international territories. The film is based on the New York Times #1 best-selling novel by Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) and is the feature directorial debut of Emmy-nominated actress Sanaa Lathan. ON THE COME UP will also hold its World Premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.

Starring newcomer Jamila C. Gray, ON THE COME UP is the story of Bri, a gifted 16-year-old rapper, who attempts to take the battle rap scene by storm in order to lift up her family and do right by the legacy of her father - a local hip hop legend whose career was cut short by gang violence. But when her first hit song goes viral for all the wrong reasons, she finds herself torn between the authenticity that got her this far and the false persona that the industry wants to impose upon her.

The coming-of-age film also stars Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Lil Yachty, Mike Epps, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Justin Martin, Titus Makin, Michael Cooper Jr., GaTa, Sanaa Lathan and Cliff "Method Man" Smith.

"We are thrilled to bring a truly inspiring film about fighting for your dreams to the service this fall," said Tanya Giles, chief programming officer at Paramount+. "ON THE COME UP is a moving love letter to hip hop and an entertaining film for all ages."

Produced by Temple Hill and State Street Pictures, ON THE COME UP is directed by Sanaa Lathan, with screenplay by Kay Oyegun. The film is produced by George Tillman Jr., Robert Teitel, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Isaac Klausner, Angie Thomas and Timothy M. Bourne and executive produced by John Fischer.

About Paramount+

Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world's biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream CBSN for 24/7 news, CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis, and ET Live for entertainment coverage. For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms. Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @ParamountPlus #ParamountPlus

About Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Paramount Pictures controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, and Paramount Players. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.