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Out in movie theaters and on streaming service
HBO Max on Friday, the movie tells the story behind the killing
in 1969 of 21 year-old Black Panther activist Fred Hampton at
the hands of Chicago police.
The "Judas" of the tale is FBI informant Bill O'Neal, who was
encouraged to infiltrate the Black power movement and whose
actions led to the fatal raid on the apartment where Hampton lay
sleeping.
"White Hollywood has attempted to try in the past to stifle
voices that weren't white, and that shit's over. It's a good
time and things are moving forward," said LaKeith Stanfield, who
said he sought to find some humanity in his portrayal of O'Neal.
"As a collective society, we have to try to do better and hold
our people in positions of power to a certain standard and not
allow people who tell the truth to be murdered in this way,"
Stanfield added.
"Judas and the Black Messiah" and its cast have already received
multiple award nominations, including for British actor Daniel
Kaluuya as Hampton.
Kaluuya, who starred in horror film "Get Out", said he felt
privileged to play the charismatic chairman of the Chicago
branch of the Black Panther Party.
"There have been so many versions of the film that people have
attempted to make, and they haven't happened... I just felt
honored, honored, honored, honored, honored, and blessed," he
said.
Hampton's son, Fred Hampton Jr, who was born after his father's
death, was on the film set each day.
"He was really supportive," said Kaluuya. "He cared about
getting things right... I just felt the stakes and how important
it was to me that you've got this man here, who didn't get to
meet his father, and I wanted to honor his family and chairman
Fred's legacy."
(Reporting by Rollo Ross. Writing by Jill Serjeant; Editing by
David Gregorio)
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