Get ready to be transfixed!
Billy Porter is about to put his artistry to work to honor the legendary novelist and civil rights activist James Baldwin in the new Byron Allen-produced project.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the multihyphenate star will co-produce the feature alongside Byron Allen’s Media Group Picture. Porter will also pen the script (alongside Dan McCabe) based on the 1994 biography James Baldwin: A Biography by author David Leeming.
The project has been a career-long dream for Porter, who stands one Oscar away from achieving the EGOT status (an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony win). The Pose actor and Broadway legendary has continuously expressed admiration and deep connection to the renowned author and civil rights leader, whom he quoted during his historic 2019 Emmy acceptance speech.
“As a Black queer man on this planet with relative consciousness, I find myself like James Baldwin said, “in a rage all the time,” Porter said in a statement Wednesday.
“I am because James was. I stand on James Baldwin’s shoulders, and I intend to expand his legacy for generations to come.”
Born in Harlem in 1924, Baldwin was a gay African American novelist and civil rights activist who focused on Black identity through the perils of racism. His best-known works include novels such as Notes of a Native Son, If Beale Street Could Talk, Another Country, The Fire Next Time, and Go Tell It on the Mountain.
Baldwin’s also recognized for his now-infamous live debate with Nikki Giovanni on the 60’s variety show Soul. His philosophy and ingenuity was the center of Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro documentary, and his works have inspired works like Barry Jenkin’s If Beale Street Could Talk film.
Allen Media Group Motion Pictures will executive produce the theatrical feature alongside Carolyn Folks, Chris Charalambous, Jennifer Lucas, and Matthew Signer. Billy Porter and D.J. Gugenheim of Incognegro Productions will be its producers.
“We at Allen Media Group Motion Pictures are extremely passionate about sharing James Baldwin’s phenomenal story with the world,” Bryon Allen, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Allen Media Group, said in a statement.
“Billy Porter and Dan McCabe’s talent and commitment to amplifying James Baldwin’s legacy and contributions are invaluable and unmatched for this unique and epic story,” he added.
Porter and McCabe are known for writing and producing some of the iconic films of the century. The two sold their original TV idea, Fruits of Thy Labor, to Peacock with Greg Berlanti and Warner Bros. Television Studios producing. McCabe’s feature, The Home, is currently in development at Paramount.
Porter, an Emmy winner for Pose and Tony winner for producing “A Strange Loop,” creatively directed the high school coming-of-age movie “Anything’s Possible” and is already set to direct the helming queer teen comedy “To Be Real” from Gabrielle Union’s I’ll Have Another Productions.
Once the news hit the internet, many users took to Twitter to express their opinions about the casting choice. Here’s what they said:
billy porter playing james baldwin is the most accurate casting ever..
— X. D. (@XavierDLeau) April 13, 2023
and
This will be the acting role of a lifetime. Do Mr. Baldwin proud, Mr Porter. I know you will.
— Civil Writes, MF (@YolandaBrown_yb) April 12, 2023
and
Hmm ?… this is either going to be really good or disappointingly inauthentic. Depends on Billy and the writing. I’m interested to see how it turns out, but I’m a big fan of James Baldwin and slightly terrified at ANYONE portraying him to be honest so… we’ll see ??♂️
— Calvin The II (@CalvinTheII) April 12, 2023
The casting isn’t a problem & that actually works, but what I would worry about is the script itself. THAT’S the REAL issue to be concerned about. They can’t afford to get it wrong.
— JAYFORCE (@Jayforce) April 12, 2023
and
Because with Billy Porter’s life experience he can do
a n y t h in g… anything. Check out YouTube Billy Porter improvising & singing Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Stronger’ in Gospel. He did this off the top of his head.— Sally Pothetes (@s8sally) April 13, 2023
Then these:
There are wonderful Black actors regardless of sexual orientation that have the depth to embody Baldwin. Billy Porter is not one of those actors. He plays a tragic queen really well but Baldwin is layered & led with his Blackness not queerness.
— Brent Whitfield (@TransEvolutions) April 13, 2023
and
Idk I think this is miscast. Like he’s just Black and gay and the right age but nothing about him gives off Baldwin to me? Yes acting blah blah blah but it’s a biopic, like the vibe gotta be there too. But who knows maybe he’ll shock and awe lol
— Icy Hot (@IsisRosinaBruno) April 13, 2023
and
my thing is did they cast Billy Porter as Baldwin bc of star power? To have a name attached? Bc the life of Baldwin as a film is enough of a draw at the box office in the indie market you’re shooting for anyway… like you could have cast a newish actor, why Billy?
— shiv roy✨ (@kinglovee__) April 12, 2023
and
Brother James Baldwin never put his sexuality over his race…..Hope they keep it like that but it’s Billy porter??
— Sweatneck87 (@megamind0687) April 12, 2023
and
Billy Porter as James Baldwin is kind of difficult to imagine for me but he’s talented so I’m open to surprises.
— uche. (@MadebyUche) April 12, 2023
and
Agreed.
But the need to find a better black gay male for his character. Idk if Billy Porter can pull off a dramatic role and idk if we’ll ever get another Baldwin biopic. There has to be an obscure talent somewhere! https://t.co/CPcIqEZ9YA— say cheese! (@scholarrrrrrrr) April 13, 2023
What do you think? Is Billy Porter the best choice for the role?
Let us know in the comment section below!
