Chris Rock, Colman Domingo, and More Join Biopic RUSTIN About Gay Civil Rights Activist

Colman Domingo (Lincoln, Selma), Chris Rock (SNL, Fargo), Glynn Turman (Fargo, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), and Audra McDonald (Private Practice, Respect) have signed on to star in the biopic Rustin, which will follow the true story of the gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. The film is the first narrative feature to be produced by Higher Ground, Michelle and Barack Obama’s production company.

The film will be directed by George C. Wolfe, who previously oversaw Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Milk’s Dustin Lance Black. Netflix will release the film under their deal with Higher Ground.

Variety reports, “The film will look at the onslaught of obstacles that Rustin had to overcome to organize the 1963 March on Washington, which was where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. Rock will play NAACP leader Roy Wilkins; Turman will portray activist and March on Washington co-organizer A. Philip Randolph; and McDonald, will play civil rights icon Ella Baker.”

This sounds like it will be a great film that tells a lesser known story about an important figure in history. I look forward to checking it out.