In his latest role, Jeffrey Wright plays a writer who is successful in stereotyping himself.
On Monday, Orion Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios released the trailer for 57-year-old Wright’s new film. American FictionA satirical comedy based on the 2001 novel by Percival Everett Deletion.
The trailer introduces Wright as his character, Monk, discusses with his manager how editors and publishers “want a Black book” that has been stereotyped because other writings have failed to sell. Fed up with the literary industry, Monk writes a book titled: My Paphology with a joking nickname, full of stereotypical descriptions of his community.
To Monk’s surprise, the “joke” book actually sells and becomes a phenomenon; which leads Monk to create a fake ex-con persona to promote the novel, even getting a major movie deal.
As his popularity grows, Monk comes to terms with the fact that although his writing is more successful than ever, this is not true for his own life.
Claire Folger
The film’s official synopsis states that the film “confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to ugly stereotypes.” The synopsis describes Monk as “a disillusioned novelist tired of the establishment that profits from ‘Black’ entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes.”
The synopsis adds: “To prove his point, Monk uses a pseudonym to write a strange ‘Black’ book of his own, which takes him into the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to despise.”
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Claire Folger
American Fiction It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and won this year’s People’s Choice Award.
The film marks the directorial debut of producer Cord Jefferson, who previously worked as a writer and producer in television. Late Night Show with Larry Wilmore, Good Place, Master of None and the 2019 HBO miniseries watchmen. Jefferson began his career as a journalist, writing a column for The Ringer. GQ, The New Yorker and Gawker, before moving on to work in film and television.
Claire Folger
“I have never directed anything in my life, neither a commercial nor a short film. “I’ve never written for a movie before,” Jefferson said. Vanity Fair In August. “Am I suddenly giving acting notes to Jeffrey Wright? “It’s like telling Michael Jordan how to shoot.”
Ryan Johnson (Knives Out) is the executive producer of the film and also the writer is Everett.
Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody, Issa Rae and Sterling K. Brown star alongside Wright.
American Fiction It will be released in select theaters on December 15th and will expand with a wider release on December 22nd.