YES! The trailer for the movie about Black Panther leader Fred Hampton & his FBI assassination has finally been released. It is called ‘Judas and The Black Messiah’ and stars Daniel Kaluuya as Hampton and Lakeith Stanfield as the informant who betrayed him https://twitter.com/wbpictures/status/1291509358241644544

I was one of the lucky few to be able to watch the trailer earlier this week in the (virtual) presence of THE Fred Hampton Jr, producers Ryan Coogler (Marvel’s Black Panther), Charles D. King (Just Mercy) & director/co-writer Shaka King. The convo that followed was v enlightening

Much was discussed as the men answered qs but all I could think about was the fact Fred Hampton’s heavily pregnant partner survived the raid & gave birth to the man speaking through my computer screen. These events (1969) were not that long ago! Think about it. Crazy, huh?

Fred Hampton Jr when asked how he trusted the directors, producers & cast for this film told us “it wasn’t an easy conversation” & joked that he did “background checks” because it was important for him to ensure the new gen knew about his dad. He spoke so proudly about the film.

He told us this was especially solidified for him after a discussion w/ the late Nipsey Hussle who told him “What kind of man would I be if I didn’t know the legacy of who Chairman Fred was?”. He said the film was an “innovative way to get this legacy out”

When asked about the casting of Daniel Kaluuya (British), Fred Hampton Jr gave us a v detailed response. He said it was a “legitimate” question & added: “Wherever an actor has been colonised we would have held them to a standard that is respecting to the legacy of Chairman Fred”

Fred Hampton Jr stressed to us that he wouldn’t have allowed just anyone with the responsibility of the role and said that his father’s politics was about the black *international* community, suggesting that his Dad would have approved of the casting choice.

They also told us that “this is a global story” and pointed out that there were international chapters of the Black Panther movement.

More importantly, the timing of this movie was discussed too. This trailer drops on the heel of the #BlackLivesMatter demonstrations and weeks after George Floyd’s death, who was also killed by authorities. How are we still talking about the same things?

On the timing, and history seemingly feeling stagnate, Ryan Coogler told us: “We are still fighting the same beef, still fighting the same monsters”. I felt that heavily when he said it via Zoom. Honestly. Chills.

I’m intrigued to see how Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield, both very skilled actors, team-up again on screen. Remember ‘Get Out’? This will also see Daniel and Ryan Coogler team-up again. Remember Wakanda-frigging-forever? We already know those dynamics work.

Also, I may have grown up reading about Fred Hampton but know little about William O’Neal (played by Lakeith Stanfield) who was Hampton’s security guard and worked with the FBI to slip a powerful drug into his drink before the assassination. I look forward to learning more.