HBO released the first teaser for their Sundance acquisition, Native Son. The drama made waves earlier this year as one of the standout films at the prestigious film festival. Native Son is the first full-length picture for the acclaimed photographer, Rashid Johnson. The script was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Suzan-Lori Parks. HBO announced that Johnson’s anticipated debut is slated to make its world premiere on April 6th.
Based on the legendary Richard Wright novel, Native Son follows the life of a young African-American man, Bigger Thomas (Ashton Sanders), in urban Chicago. After taking a job as a chauffeur, Thomas becomes increasingly involved in the toxic intricacies within affluent America. As he becomes more involved in high society, Thomas is thrown into an impossible life-altering situation that sends him in a downward spiral. The drama looks at issues of wealth inequality, urban life, race relations, morality, and the place of the law. Native Son serves as an unsparing critique of American power structures and embodies the haplessness felt by impoverished minorities isolated by residential segregation.
Native Son makes its world premiere on April 6 at 10:00 pm (ET/PT). The film will also be available on HBO’s catalog of streaming services. Watch the teaser trailer for the upcoming drama below. This news was first reported by Deadline.