Samuel L. Jackson and Apple TV + have joined together to bring Walter Mosley’s novel The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey to life.
Apple TV + recently debuted a six-episode limited series adapted from the novel which stars Jackson in the leading role as Ptolemy Grey. Jackson and Mosley also serve as the series’ executive producers.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey follows the story of an over 90 year old Black man who is dealing with dementia and how his declining mental state affects both his family members and community. Grey however is given the opportunity to reclaim all lost memories by undergoing a medical procedure that could be risky for a man of his age, but allows him to uncover the truth about a family member’s demise. Jackson is joined in the series by Judas and the Black Messiah’s Dominique Fishback who plays a teen who becomes Ptolemy’s caretaker, When They See Us’ actress Marsha Stephanie Blake, Omar Benson Miller as Ptolemy’s nephew and Damon Gupton as Ptolemy’s long deceased childhood mentor.
In the first episode which was screened at a virtual premiere, Ptolemy is introduced as a man living in solitude, struggling with remembering important people who impact his life, seeming to only remember two individuals, his nephew and his former mentor Coydog. However in order to deal with the painful tragic circumstances that arise in the present, Ptolemy has to learn from the past, but can’t unless he regains his memory which becomes the driving force for the character.
With the adaptation being a limited series rather than a movie the story moves along slowly. In the first episode the time is used to mainly introduce the characters rather than focus on main plot conflict and tension. The twist that changes the story comes towards the end of the episode. There is also little action in the first episode, except for in a flashback scene showing traumatic event that Ptolemy experienced in childhood but seems to be reliving in his mind while forgetting everything and everyone else. Despite losing his memory Ptolemy is shown to have a deep sense of caring and protectiveness for his family members and caretaker Robyn, building a grandfather like bond with Robyn(Fishback).
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey premieres on Apple TV + on March 11th.
