Emmy-award winning screenwriter, Lena Waithe, released the trailer for her upcoming film Queen & Slim. The movie, which Waithe describes as “protest art”, follows a black couple who goes on the run after a horrible encounter with the police.
What We Know:
- Starring Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya and Nightflyers’ Jodie Turner-Smith, the dramatic yet romantic thriller follows a couple after they get pulled over by an officer for a minor traffic violation, then kills the officer out of self-defense. The couple is then forced to go on the run. According to the official movie description, “these two unlikely fugitives will discover themselves and each other in the most dire and desperate of circumstances, and will forge a deep and powerful love that will reveal their shared humanity and shape the rest of their lives.”
- “It’s meant to get people talking,” Waithe said. “The film is not made to give the audience answers, but instead to ask questions and show what it looks like to be black and in love while the world is burning all around you.”
- This will be Waithe’s feature film debut and is based on a story by James Frey. The film will be directed by Melina Matsoukas, who’s known for directing music videos for Beyoncé and Rihanna. Waithe and Matsoukas have worked together before on the “Thanksgiving” episode for the Master of None TV series. Matzoukas have also directed seven episodes of HBO’s Insecure and the pilot for FX’s Y series.
- During a Q&A at Essence Fest, Waithe explained that in the climate we’re in now, a movie like this is necessary. “There’s so much Black death surrounding us,” Waithe said. “For me, I just kind of wanted to turn the tables a bit where we keep breathing and the oppressor doesn’t. I want to give voice to all the nameless faceless men and women of color whose lives were taken by police officers unjustly who didn’t make it home.”
Queen & Slim hits theaters November 27.
