Rustin (film)

Rustin (film)
Rustin is a 2023 American biographical drama film directed by George C. Wolfe, from a screenplay by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black, and a story by Breece about the life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground, the film stars Colman Domingo in the title role, alongside Chris Rock, Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald. It is based on the true story of Rustin, who helped Martin Luther King Jr. and others organize the 1963 March on Washington.
Rustin premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023, and was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2023. It is scheduled to be released in select theaters on November 3, 2023, before its streaming release on November 17, 2023, by Netflix.
Cast
Production
In February 2021, it was reported that George C. Wolfe would direct a film based on the life of Bayard Rustin from a script by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black. In October 2021, Colman Domingo was cast as Rustin. Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, and Audra McDonald also joined the cast. Later that month, Aml Ameen, CCH Pounder, Michael Potts, Bill Irwin, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Gus Halper, Johnny Ramey, Carra Patterson, and Adrienne Warren joined the cast. Production began in November 2021 in Pittsburgh. In December 2021, Jeffrey Wright, Grantham Coleman, Lilli Kay, Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Dante Powell, Ayana Workman, Jamilah Nadege Rosemond, Jules Latimer, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, Frank Harts and Kevin Mambo joined the cast.
Upon the announcement of Colman Domingo being cast in the lead role, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, an LGBTQIA safe-space, community activist center voiced their approval directly to Domingo, espousing that "Your powerful voice helps amplify Bayard Rustin, Godfather of Intersectionality, Planned the March, Brought non-violence to the Movement, Inspired the Freedom Riders, Lost to history because of who he loved, Who he was. Angelic Troublemakers unite!"
Lenny Kravitz wrote and performed an original song, "Road to Freedom," for the film. On approaching Kravitz for writing a song for the film, Wolfe said, "The one note I gave him was the song needed to help deliver us as an audience, from feeling to action. And trombones. I begged for trombones." Wolfe became fascinated with trombones after filming Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020), and Trombone Shorty was brought on board to contribute to the song.
Release
Rustin premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023. It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2023. The film will be released in select theaters on November 3, 2023 and premiere worldwide on Netflix on November 17.
Reception
Critical response
Accolades
The film will receive the Icon & Creator Tribute for Social Justice at the 2023 Gotham Awards.
See also
Civil rights movement in popular culture
References
External links
American biographical drama films
English-language Netflix original films
Films directed by George C. Wolfe
Films shot in Pittsburgh
Films with screenplays by Dustin Lance Black
Higher Ground Productions films
Upcoming Netflix original films
Cultural depictions of Martin Luther King Jr.
Civil rights movement in film
2023 LGBT-related films
2023 films
American LGBT-related films
LGBT-related biographical films
LGBT-related drama films