Judas and the Black Messiah has officially gotten its release date…and it is coming soon. The film was initially supposed to be released this summer but got removed from the schedule amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Warner Bros. undated the film and did not give it a new release date, only that it would release in 2021. It was long thought that the film could bow in January or February so it could qualify for the 2021 Oscars. Now that Warner Bros. has announced its 2021 release plans for its films to get a simultaneous bow in select theaters and HBO Max, Judas and the Black Messiah is dated for Feb. 12, 2021.
There is also a new description fro the film: FBI informant William O’Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton. A career thief, O’Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell. Hampton’s political prowess grows just as he’s falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson. Meanwhile, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover commands?
The film stars Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton and LaKeith Stanfield as William O’Neal. It also stars Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, Algee Smith and Martin Sheen.
It is directed by Shaka King in his studio feature film directorial debut. King, who has a long relationship with filmmaker Ryan Coogler, pitched the film to him and MARCO’s Charles D. King, who are producers on the film. Executive producers are Sev Ohanian, Zinzi Coogler, Kim Roth, Poppy Hanks, Ravi Mehta, Jeff Skoll, Anikah McLaren, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jason Cloth, Ted Gidlow, and Niija Kuykendall.
The film is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with MACRO Films, Participant and BRON Creative.
