Exclusive: Regina King Talks About Directing ‘One Night In Miami’
Hitting Prime Video on January 15th, 2021 from Amazon Studios is Oscar-winning actress Regina King’s feature directorial debut, One Night in Miami, written by Olivier-nominated Kemp Powers, based off his 2013 stage play.
The film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., Joaquina Kalukango, Nicolette Robinson with Beau Bridges and Lance Reddick.
Set on the night of February 25, 1964, the story follows a young Cassius Clay (before he became Muhammad Ali) (played by Eli Goree) as he emerges from the Miami Beach Convention Center the new World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Against all odds, he defeated Sonny Liston and shocked the sports world. While crowds of people swarm Miami Beach to celebrate the match, Clay - unable to stay on the island because of Jim Crow-era segregation laws - instead spends the night at the Hampton House Motel in one of Miami's historically black neighborhoods celebrating with three of his closest friends: activist Malcolm X (played by Kingsley Ben-Adir), singer Sam Cooke (played by Leslie Odom Jr.) and football star Jim Brown (played by Aldis Hodge). The next morning, the four men emerge determined to define a new world for themselves and their people.
In One Night in Miami, Powers explores what happened during these pivotal hours through the dynamic relationship between the four men and the way their friendship, paired with their shared struggles, fueled their path to becoming the civil rights icons they are today.
For King, winner of an Academy Award (If Beale Street Could Talk), a Golden Globe Award, and four acting Primetime Emmy Awards (American Crime, Seven Seconds, Watchmen), this is her first venture into the film world from behind the screen. BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales recently caught up with King as she spoke about her experience on directing this film.
