Not all anticipated prestige movies are coming out this year. A new biopic about the life of Bayard Rustin will be released on Netflix in 2023 and, this morning, the streamer released the first image of Colman Domingo as the Civil Rights icon. Titled “Rustin,” the picture was directed by George C. Wolfe, his first feature since the Oscar-nominated “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
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Born in 1912, Rustin was best known as one of the organizers on the March on Washington in 1963, but spent decades of his life working to end racial discrimination in the workplace. Rustin was also an out gay man which meant he often had to work behind the scenes and many of his achievements have been lost to history. This new film hopes to restore Rustin’s legacy.
“Rustin” was produced by Academy Award winner Bruce Cohen (“American Beauty”) and Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis. Barack & Michelle Obama, Mark R. Wright and Alex G. Scott are executive producers. The script is from Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black (“Milk”).
Domingo is a Tony Award winner for his role in “The Scottsboro Boys” and just earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Ali in HBO’s “Euphoria.” He’ll also be seen next year in the big screen adaptation of “The Color Purple” musical.
The film’s large ensemble cast also includes Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Audra McDonald, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, Johnny Ramey, CCH Pounder, Michael Potts, Carra Patterson, Adrienne Warren, Bill Irwin, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Jeffrey Wright.