Back in March of 2022, it was announced that Jonathan Majors was set to star in and executive produce the psychological thriller The Man in My Basement, which is based on the Walter Mosley novel of the same name (pick up a copy HERE) and would mark the feature debut of writer/director Nadia Latif. But then, as we all know, things fell apart with Majors in a major way… but at least Latif is still pushing The Man in My Basement forward. Majors is no longer involved with the project, but Variety reports that it’s going to star Corey Hawkins (The Last Voyage of the Demeter), Willem Dafoe (Poor Things), and Hawkins’ 24: Legacy co-star Anna Diop.
Hawkins is taking on the role of Charles Blakey, a man living in the African American neighborhood of Sag Harbor, who is out of work, out of luck and on the verge of foreclosure on his ancestral home. A knock on the door from a mysterious white businessman, Anniston Bennet (Dafoe), brings a bizarre and lucrative proposition; rent his dusty stand-up basement out and receive enough money to clear his debts for good. Once Charles accepts, he finds himself led down a terrifying path that confronts his family’s ghosts and locks the men in a terrifying puzzle, at the heart of it race, the source of their traumas, and the root of all evil.
Diop will be playing Narciss Gully, a local academic and antiques expert who is passionate about having African American histories told – particularly the history of African American women. When she meets Charles Blakey and is introduced to what he pulls out of his basement, she realizes his family history may be what she’s always been looking for.
The Man in My Basement is coming our way from Protagonist Pictures, Good Gate Media, and Mosley and producer Diane Houslin’s banner B.O.B. FilmHouse. Andscape is providing the financing, so the film will be released through the Hulu streaming service, thanks to Andscape’s existing partnership with them.
Does The Man in My Basement sound interesting to you? What do you think of the cast Nadia Latif has assembled for the film? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
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