Barry Jenkins is following up his Oscar winning film, Moonlight, with an adaptation of James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk.
Jenkins released the first trailer for the film Thursday, on what would have been Baldwin’s 94th birthday.
“For me, August 2nd has always been a day to pay tribute, so… a teaser of what’s to come. Happy Birthday, Jimmy,” the director tweeted along with the trailer for If Beale Street Could Talk.
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The stunning drama, adapted from Baldwin’s 1974 novel, stars newcomer Kiki Layne and Stephan James (Shots Fired) as Tish and Fonny, an engaged couple in Harlem who are expecting their first child.
Fonny is falsely accused of rape, forcing Tish and her family to prove he is innocent.
“When I was growing up, I was trying to make a connection between the life I saw and the life I lived,” a voiceover says in the trailer. “There are days when you wonder what your role is in this country, and what your future is in it. This is one of them.”
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Regina King co-stars as Tish’s mother. Teyonah Parris, Dave Franco, Diego Luna and Pedro Pascal also have roles in the film.
Jenkins adapted Baldwin’s novel himself, and serves as a producer on the film in addition to directing.
If Beale Street Could Talk will premiere next month at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is scheduled for release on November 30, by Annapurna Pictures.
