The highly anticipated Lionsgate horror film Antebellum, starring musician-turned-actress Janelle Monáe (Moonlight) is set to hit theaters on Aug. 21 of this year. Antebellum chronicles a modern-day author (Monáe), who is sent back in time to the 19th century as a slave. Trapped on a Southern plantation, the author is faced with her own ancestors and the nightmarish reality of American slavery.

Starring alongside Monáe are Marque Richardson II, Eric Lange, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons, Tongayi Chirisa, Gabourey Sidibe, Lily Cowles, Rob Aramayo and Jena Malone. The film will be directed by Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, along with producers Raymond Mansfield, Sean McKittrick, Zev Foreman, and Lezlie Wills. While horror-centric, it’s more of a social thriller in the same vein as Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Us, both of which were produced by McKittrick. 

Antebellum was initially set to release in theaters on April 24 but, due to the coronavirus and social distancing precautions, the release date was moved forward four months. This release change, like many other films, us being done in the hopes that the precautions over movie theaters will soon be lifted and individuals will once again be permitted to attend large public gatherings.  

It’s unknown if Antebellum will be pushed back even further, but Lionsgate is hopeful that the film will be able to premiere in August.