Oscar-winning actressRegina Kingwill make her feature-directing debut with an adaptation of Kemp Powers' debut play,One Night in Miami, which findsCassius Clay,Malcolm X, singerSam Cookeand football starJim Brownhanging out together at a Miami motel.
Set on the night of February 25th, 1964, the story follows a young Cassius Clay — before he was known as Muhammad Ali, for our younger readers — fresh off his victory overSonny Listonfor the heavyweight title, which shocked the entire boxing world. While thousands of people hit the night clubs of Miami Beach to party the night away, Jim Crow-era segregation laws forced Clay to celebrate at the Hampton House Motel in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood, where he was joined by his three iconic friends. In addition to their private lives, they also discuss the responsibility of being successful black men during the civil rights movement. The next morning, they all emerged from that room determined to define a new world.
According to Deadline, the play strips the men of their myth and examines who they really were as people, all set to Cooke’s timeless music, including his hit song “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Powers adapted his own play, and he and King are eager to explore what happened in that room, and how those events affected the world at large in the years to come.
One Night in Miamiwill be produced by Snoot Entertainment and ABKCO.Keith CalderandJess Wu Calderwill produce for Snoot, whileJody Kleinwill produce for ABCKO. Snoot most recently produced the upcomingLupita Nyong’o-Josh GadmovieLittle Monstersand the searing Sundance dramaBlindspotting.
King has been working her way up to this moment, which arrives on the heels of her Oscar-winning turn inBarry Jenkins' dramaIf Beale Street Could Talk. She has been directing episodes ofScandal,Shameless,The Good DoctorandThis Is Usfor years, so she has paid her dues behind the camera.
As an actress, King got her start working with the late, greatJohn SingletononBoyz n the Hood,Poetic JusticeandHigher Learningbefore going on to star in hit studio movies likeFriday,Jerry MaguireandRay. King will soon be seen inDamon Lindelof’s new HBO seriesWatchmen, which looks absolutely fantastic. She’s represented by ICM Partners and John Carrabino Management, andthe Observerand Production Weekly were out front with the news.
