Sonequa Martin-Green on Space Jam family dynamic and Captain Burnham

Sonequa Martin-Green is one of the many Walking Dead cast members who left the series and has reached amazing heights in their career. Martin-Green currently has roles in a major film and a major series, Space Jam: A New Legacy and Star Trek: Discovery. 

Martin-Green joined TWD Family in season 3 when she played Sasha Williams. She and her brother Tyreese (Chad Coleman) first appeared in “Made to Suffer.” Sasha would go on to be a great fighter and friend during her time on the series. In the end, she sacrificed herself for the group in what was one of the best death scenes of the series, in the season 7 finale, “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life.”

After she departed from The Walking Dead, she starred in a Netflix original film Holiday Rush and a dramedy titled The Outside Story.  One role I loved to see her in was Rhonda on New Girl.

Sonequa Martin-Green Space Jam: A New Legacy

Fast-forward to today, and Martin-Green is on fire. Currently, you can see her star in the stand-alone sequel to Space Jam (1996) called Space Jam: A New Legacy.  She plays  Kamiyah, the wife of Lebron James, who plays himself in the film.  Kamiyah is a fictionalized version of James’ real wife, Savannah.

This film features the same live-action animation as the original, but with advanced technology using a combination of live-action, traditional hand-drawn animation, and 3D CGI effects. This film has it all, sports, Looney Tunes and a strong family dynamic.

Cinema Blend interviewed Martin-Green, and she shared that part of the appeal of this film was that strong family connection. The film shows the family navigating their successes and failures, which she feels is important to see a Black family exhibited in this way.  Another important relationship in the film is an equal partnership between spouses where they co-manage the family and their relationship.

"Then I also think it’s important to see this marriage exhibited in this way, because it’s a true partnership, and you can see that these two people co-helm their family. And you see how they have fit into their roles very nicely, and you know that that’s come from experience. I love it, I love that you see how influential LeBron, and then you also see how influential Kamyah is. So I think that the more we can see of that, the better…"

Martin-Green’s real-life husband, Kenric Green, shared his excitement for his wife’s film’s success in his most recent IG post. 

Sonequa Martin-Green, Captain Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery

And speaking of success, Martin-Green’s character Michael Burnham has also experienced some success in her career. She has finally been made Captain. The series is currently airing its third season, with the fourth in the middle of filming; fans of the series are excited to see Captain Burnham.

Martin-Green feels that Burnham has the sacrificial leadership qualities that have come to be expected and necessary for the Starfleet Captain. A quality that Captain’s before her have most definitely possessed.

Star Trek history has been made in Martin-Greens portrayal of Captain Burnham by being the first black woman to lead a series in this franchise. It is an amazing path that is being paved in this franchise.

Den of Geek interviewed Martin-Green, who had this to say about Burnham.

"[Michael Burnham] is brilliant and a genius. One of the smartest in the room and all of that good stuff, but [she’s] also sacrificial. To be a woman of honor it actually floors me when I really think about it. It’s like, if you really contemplate what that must mean to be a person to be ready and willing to lay down your life much like the essential workers in this global pandemic. That is a different type of person who is just willing to die or for anyone, not just their child or their spouse or their sibling or their parent, but somebody you don’t know, or somebody you just met or whatever, that there is just something to be said about a person like that."

It is exciting to see a member of TWD Family experience so much success from their hard work and dedication. Congrats to Sonequa Martin-Green.