Daniel Kaluuya offers a strong performance that could show him among the competitors at the Oscars this season of premieres, as shown in the new trailer for Judas and the Black Messiah.
Kaluuya (Get Out) plays the iconic Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, who was betrayed by FBI informant William O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield), who infiltrated the group as part of a plea deal.
As he rises to power in the Black Panther party and is seen as a threat to the US government, he is also preparing to raise a family with his pregnant fiancée Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback).
Black Messiah: Daniel Kaluuya delivers a strong performance that could throw him among the Oscar nominees this season of awards, as shown in the new trailer for Judas and the Black Messiah
Judas: Kaluuya (Get Out) portrays iconic Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, who was betrayed by FBI informant William O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield), who infiltrated the group as part of a recognition deal
The trailer begins with Deborah telling Fred, “I want to share something with you,” while Fred begins reciting a poem.
“Like the masses, I was frightened when I first looked at all the things you are,” she begins, as we see images of Hampton arriving at an event in which he gives a powerful speech.
“When I heard that speech, I knew we were going to make noise. I just thought it would be on the streets, she continued.
Poem: The trailer begins with Deborah telling Fred, “I want to share something with you,” while Fred begins to recite a poem.
Speech: “Like the masses, I was frightened when I first looked at all the things you are,” she begins, as we see images of Hampton reaching an event in which he gives a powerful speech.
We also hear FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) proclaiming in front of a chamber full of agents that the Black Panthers, “are the single greatest threat to our national security.
“Our counterintelligence program must prevent a Black Messiah from appearing,” Hoover added, as FBI agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) watched the crowd.
Mitchell tells O’Neal in an interrogation room that he faces 18 months for the stolen car plus five years for replacing a federal officer, “or you can go home.”
J. Edgar: We also hear FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) proclaiming in front of a chamber full of agents that the Black Panthers, “are the only major threat to our national security.
Threat: “Our counterintelligence program must prevent a Black Messiah from appearing,” Hoover added, as FBI agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) watched in droves.
Interrogation: Mitchell tells O’Neal in an interrogation room that he faces 18 months for the stolen car plus five years for usurping a federal officer, “or you can go home.”
O’Neal becomes Mitchell’s eyes and ears in the Black Panther party, as he was told, “get close to Hampton.”
Hampton is seen uttering another hectic address in which he reveals that he is the Black Panther, “forming a rainbow coalition of oppressed brothers and sisters of all colors,” while both blacks and whites respond to his message.
Hampton is heard saying, “America is on fire right now, and until that fire goes out, nothing else is damn good. Imagine what we can achieve together. We can heal this whole city.
Come closer: O’Neal becomes Mitchell’s eyes and ears in the Black Panther party, as he was told, “get close to Hampton.”
Heal: Hampton is heard saying, “America is on fire now, and until that fire goes out, nothing else means anything damn good. Imagine what we can achieve together. We can heal this whole city ‘
O’Neal is seen again in an interrogation room with Mitchell, O’Neal clarifying: “They are not terrorists.”
One of Hampton’s relatives then tells him, “We have a rat,” as O’Neal worries that he has been exposed, although Mitchell says, “No one knows your identity.”
Johnson continues his poetry in the midst of an armed battle with Chicago police, agitatedly adding, “We scream and shout and live by this hymn / but it is a power for people who truly deserve redemption.”
Non-terrorists: O’Neal is seen again in an interrogation room with Mitchell, O’Neal clarifying: “they are not terrorists”
Hampton responds to the poem by telling Johnson, “When I dedicate my life to people, I dedicate my life,” apparently knowing his fate before it happened.
Johnson claims that he ends up “going out there and talking about revolutionary death, because you don’t have another person growing up in your body.”
The trailer ends with Hampton telling O’Neal, “Wherever there are people, there is power.”
Life: Hampton responds to poetry by telling Johnson, “When I dedicate my life to people, I dedicate my life,” apparently knowing his fate before it happened.
Growing up: Johnson says he’s getting there, “go out there and talk about the death of a revolutionary death, because you don’t have another person growing up in your body.”
Hampton was just 21 years old when he was killed in December 1969 in a raid before dawn on his Chicago apartment just 25 days before the birth of his son Fred Jr.
Shaka King (Newlyweds, High Maintenance) directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Will Berson (Scrubs).
Warner Bros. will launch Judas and the Black Messiah in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service simultaneously on February 12th.
Death: Hampton was just 21 years old when he was killed in December 1969 in a pre-dawn raid on his Chicago apartment just 25 days before the birth of his son Fred Jr.
Launch: Warner Bros. will release Judas and the Black Messiah in theaters and HBO Max streaming service simultaneously on February 12