Acclaimed drama Young.Wild.Free premieres this week on BET+.
The original film, about a Compton teenager whose life takes a dangerous turn after he’s robbed at gunpoint by the girl of his dreams, stars Algee Smith (Euphoria), Sierra Capri (On My Block), and Sanaa Lathan (The Best Man: The Final Chapters).
Smith leads the cast as troubled teenager “Brandon.” Lathan portrays his mom “Janice Huffman,” who is trying to balance her mental health struggles with being a mother of three. “Lamont,” played by Epps, is the father of Janice’s youngest two children and has a strained relationship with Brandon.
Mike Epps, Jeremiah King, and Tamala Jones also have roles in the drama.
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The film is directed by Thembi L. Banks (Home Before Dark) from on a script Banks co-wrote with Juel Taylor (They Cloned Tyrone) and Tony Rettenmaier (They Cloned Tyrone).
Here’s the official synopsis: “Being a teenager is rough and Brandon is no different. Between struggling in school, caring for his two younger siblings, and having just been let go from his job, Brandon often uses his art as an escape from the confines of his subdued day-to-day life. Enter Cassidy, a bedazzled bad girl dripping in confidence, freedom, and danger. Lured in by her whimsies, Brandon teams up with Cassidy, seamlessly slipping into the role of Clyde to her Bonnie as they make their way down an increasingly perilous path.”
BET+ acquired the film after it played at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023.
“We knew immediately after screening Young.Wild.Free that our audience would gravitate toward the film. The story is compelling and the cast delivers relatable performances that give a unique perspective and voice to its characters — unlike anything we currently have on the platform,” Marvin Neil, VP of content programming and strategy for BET+, said in a statement.
The film is produced by Tommy Oliver, Charles D. King, James Lopez, Poppy Hanks, Baron Davis, and Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd. Executive producers include Codie Elaine Oliver, Charlotte Koh, Prince Baggett, Jo Henriquez, Mark R. Wright, Jenna Cavelle, Tony Rettenmeier, Juel Taylor, Thembi L. Banks, and Sanaa Lathan.
Young.Wild.Free premieres June 27 on BET+.
