This November, prepare for an intense ride. Queen & Slim, an upcoming Universal Pictures film from Lena Waithe and Melina Matsoukas, stars Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya and rising actress Jodie Turner-Smith. It follows Queen (Turner-Smith) and Slim (Kaluuya), who experience a bland first date together–until the two are pulled over for a minor traffic violation. The situation quickly becomes volatile, to which Slim responds by killing the officer in self-defense. Fearing for their lives, the two are forced to go on the run, and are then labeled as the “black Bonnie and Clyde.”
The official synopsis states that during their journey, “these two unlikely fugitives will discover themselves and each other in the most dire and desperate of circumstances, and will forge a deep and powerful love that will reveal their shared humanity and shape the rest of their lives.” It is a film that aims to raise consciousness and “confront the staggering human toll of racism and the life-shattering price of violence.”
Queen & Slim is Waithe’s feature screenwriting debut, one she referred to as “protest art” when it first aired during Cinemacon back in April. “The film is not made to give the audience answers,” said Waithe. “But instead to ask questions and show what it looks like to be black and in love while the world is burning all around you.” The script is based on an original idea by A Million Little Pieces author James Frey.
The film will mark Melina Metsoukas’ feature directing debut. Her previous work includes directing music videos for high-profile artists, with the most famous being Beyonce’s “Formation.”
Queen & Slim also stars Chloë Sevigny, Bookem Woodbine, Roman Armstrong, Thom Gossom Jr., and Sturgill Simpson. Below, watch the tense first trailer, which made its appearance last night at the BET Awards.
The movie hits U.S. theaters on November 27th.
