Audacy and V-103’s The Big Tigger Morning Show was joined by actor LaKeith Stanfield and writer/director Jeymes Samuel to discuss their upcoming film, The Book of Clarence, premiering January 12, 2024.
The highly anticipated film, staring Stanfield, Omar Sy, Anna Diop, RJ Cyler, David Oyelowo, Teyana Taylor, and Caleb McLaughlin, offers a bold new take on the timeless Biblical-era epic.
Broken down in a brief synopsis, the movie tells the tale of down-on-his-luck, Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) who is struggling to find a better life for his family, while fighting to free himself of debt. Captivated by the power and glory of the rising Messiah and his apostles, he risks everything to carve his own path to a divine life, and ultimately discovers that the redemptive power of belief may be his only way out.
Talking with Big Tigger about the film, that has a few people up in arms after the teaser release, Jeymes expressed the project is meant to be both artist expression and dialogue starting. “The best art is dialogue starting, but… also artistic expression.” Noting the teaser is just that… a teaser.
“This is one of them ones — you really have to go see it,” LaKeith added, “because you think you know what it is, and the trailer it might give you little tidbits, but once you sit down and watch it you realize its much more vast than you would have thought.”
“I mean I left this movie truly feeling inspired,” he continued, “and I don’t know anyone who’s seen it who hasn’t. So I would encourage people who have questions, just go see, go give it a chance, because it’s definitely not what meets the eye.”
Stanfield and Samuel had much more to share, listen to the entire conversation above.
Featuring new music by the film’s writer and director Jeymes Samuel and produced by JAY-Z, The Book of Clarence, premieres January 12, 2024.
Words by Maia Kedem Interview by The Big Tigger Morning Show