Three-time Grammy Award winner Raphael Saadiq has been named executive music producer for Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur,” the highly anticipated animated series. Saadiq, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, will lead the songwriting and musical underscore that reflects the many cultures and communities of New York City (hip-hop, pop, R&B, jazz, Jamaican, funk, and Latin). Based on Marvel’s hit comic books, the Disney Branded Television series is slated to premiere in 2023 on Disney Channel and Disney+.
The series follows 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette (aka Moon Girl) and her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur, as they protect New York City’s Lower East Side from danger.
The news, along with a video featurette highlighting Saadiq and the music in the series, was revealed during a Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur panel at ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans.
“I am proud to be working with Disney Branded Television on this groundbreaking new series featuring a female African American Marvel Super Hero, who is smart, funny, compassionate and a born leader. I look forward to helping the creative team bring the show to life through music,” said Saadiq.
Known for his deep musicality, contemporary creative vision and encyclopedic knowledge of timeless pop and R&B music, Saadiq has produced and co-written hits for top artists, including Justin Timberlake, Elton John, Mick Jagger, John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Solange Knowles and Mary J. Blige. He has been nominated nearly 20 times for the entertainment industry’s most-coveted awards, including an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and 15 GRAMMY Awards. Recently, he served as the executive music producer for National Geographic’s critically acclaimed limited series Genius: Aretha.
Diamond White, voice of Lunella/Moon Girl, provides vocals for the theme song and additional songs throughout the series. In addition to White, the series voice cast includes Alfre Woodard as Lunella’s grandmother, Mimi; Libe Barer as Lunella’s best friend and manager, Casey; Sasheer Zamata as Lunella’s mom, Adria; Jermaine Fowler as Lunella’s dad, James Jr.; Gary Anthony Williams as Lunella’s grandfather, Pops; Fred Tatasciore as Devil Dinosaur; and series executive producer Laurence Fishburne in the recurring role of The Beyonder, a curious and mischievous trickster.
Produced by Disney Television Animation, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is executive produced by Fishburne and Helen Sugland’s Cinema Gypsy Productions (ABC’s ‘black-ish’ and ‘mixed-ish ‘, Freeform’s ‘grown-ish’) and Steve Loter (Disney’s Kim Possible).
