Netflix’s all-black Western thriller, starring Idris Elba and Jonathan Majors, has added more big names to its starry ensemble.
The Harder They Fall follows outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), who discovers that the man who killed his parents (Idris Elba) is being released from prison. Nat rounds up his old crew to track the killer down and take his revenge. Last week, seven actors—including Oscar Winner Regina King, Zazie Beetz and Lakeith Stanfield—joined the project.
The film stars three actors from the series Atlanta: Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Standfield and Danielle Deadwyler. Zazie Beetz has appeared in Deadpool 2 and Joker, while Stanfield was the lead in Sorry to Bother You and will star in the upcoming Judas and the Black Messiah. Deadwyler also had a role in HBO’s Watchmen alongside Regina King.
Last year, Regina King won her first Academy Award for her supporting role in If Beale Street Could Talk. She premiered her feature film directorial debut, One Night In Miami, at the Venice Film Festival last week. Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods), Edi Gathegi (X-Men: First Class, Twilight) and RJ Cyler (Power Rangers) also joined the cast last week.
The Harder They Fall stands out due to its predominantly black cast, something unusual in the Western genre. According to The Guardian, it is estimated that one in four cowboys were black yet their representation in the Western film genre has almost been erased or their stories being used for white characters. Therefore, Netflix may inspire Hollywood to diversify future Western films.
This will be Jeymes Samuel’s directorial debut. He co-wrote the film with Boaz Yakin, the writer behind The Punisher. Jay-Z, James Lassiter, Lawrence Bender and Samuel are producing the film, while Jay-Z is creating original music for the movie with Samuel, a singer-songwriter from the Bullitts. They have previously collaborated on The Great Gatsby soundtrack.
Words by Ayomikun Adekaiyero
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