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Some diversity bright spots are ahead in 2016 movies

Maria Puente, Andrea Mandell, and Brian Truitt
USA TODAY

Diversity may not look promising for most of Hollywood's forthcoming films in 2016, but there are some notable exceptions.

Armie Hammer (left) and Nate Parker in 'The Birth of A Nation,' which is directed and co-written by Parker.

Barbershop: The Next Cut  (Warner Bros., April 15): The third installment employs a large ensemble black cast with solid female representation, and is helmed by African-American director Malcolm D. Lee.

The Birth of A Nation  (Fox Searchlight, release date not yet set): The biopic of slave rebel leader Nat Turner brought a crowd at Sundance Film Festival to its feet and was written, produced and directed by its star, Nate Parker.

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Boo! A Madea Halloween  (Lionsgate, Oct. 21): Tyler Perry’s upcoming comedy was a high-scoring film, thanks to a host of women and minorities in major roles.

Ghostbusters  (Sony, July 15): The reboot has an all-female squad.

Miles Ahead  (Sony Pictures Classics, opens April 1 in New York and Los Angeles): The movie about jazz great Miles Davis stars Don Cheadle, who also directs and co-writes.

Morris From America (A24, release date not yet set): In the Sundance hit, Craig Robinson plays the father to a struggling teenager (newcomer Markees Christmas) as they try to make a new life in Germany.

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My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2  (Universal, March 25): Nia Vardalos brings her family back together for the sequel, which is heavily female-focused.

Pryor  (The Weinstein Co., release date not yet set): The story of Richard Pryor's path from a Peoria brothel to comedy legend has a black director (Lee Daniels) and a mostly black cast, including Mike Epps, Eddie Murphy, Tracy Morgan and Oprah Winfrey.

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Queen of Katwe (Disney, fall): The true story of a Ugandan chess champ, starring Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo (and helmed by Indian director Mira Nair).

Race (Focus, now showing): The story of Olympian Jesse Owens' track heroics at "Hitler's Olympics" in 1936, starring Stephan James.

Lupita Nyong'o (right) and Madina Nalwanga in the true story 'Queen of  Katwe.'

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Disney, Dec. 16): The saga's spinoff cast Felicity Jones as a lead, along with Diego Luna, Donnie Yen and Forest Whitaker.

Southside With You (Miramax and Roadside Attractions, summer): The Sundance breakout about how Barack Obama wooed Michelle Robinson in Chicago in 1989.

What studios say about their diversity grades

Suicide Squad  (Warner Bros, Aug. 5): It has an especially diverse cast for a superhero movie, with a host of women and actors of color in major roles.

X-Men: Apocalypse (Fox, May 27): The latest installment in the franchise is impressively diverse, thanks to a strong mix of women and diverse faces (from Olivia Munn to Oscar Isaac).

Contributing: Bryan Alexander

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