Netflix has finally released the first trailer for Rustin, unveiling a preview of what appears to be a poignant and contemplative movie delving into the life of an essential yet often overlooked figure in the civil rights movement.
In the dynamic era of the civil rights movement, Bayard Rustin stood shoulder-to-shoulder with luminaries like Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Ella Baker. Advocating for peaceful protests, he lent his voice to the chorus of change. Heading the A. Philip Randolph Institute from ’66 to ’79, Rustin’s influence stretched across New York City. But his impact didn’t stop there – in his later years, he championed LGBTQ+ rights and spotlighted the AIDS crisis in partnership with the NAACP. Rustin’s legacy lives on even after his passing in ’87, culminating in a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Barack Obama in 2013.
Wolfe’s upcoming Netflix biopic focuses mostly on the key era in the activist’s life: his part in planning the legendary 1963 March on Washington, during which Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
The official synopsis for the film reads, “The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten.”
Rustin trailer not only offers a glimpse into the compelling story but also introduces a stellar cast who have breathed life into these real-life characters. Colman Domingo portrays Rustin while Aml Ameen embodies Martin Luther King Jr., Jeffrey Wright as Adam Clayton Powell, Audra McDonald portraying Ella Baker, and Chris Rock stepping into the shoes of Roy Wilkins. The lineup also features Glynn Turman as A. Philip Randolph, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mahalia Jackson, and Michael Potts as Cleveland Robinson, promising a cast that’s set to shine on the screen.
Heading the production of Rustin are the renowned Barack and Michelle Obama. The screenplay is by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black. Five-time Tony award winner George C. Wolfe helms the biopic.
Rustin will be released on November 3rd in select theaters and on Netflix on November 17th. Check out the trailer here:
