After a first look at Queen & Slim last month, Universal today dropped an extended trailer, pulling us deeper into the world of intrigue and all-too-common police misconduct and brutality.
With a string of impressive music video and TV show credits to her name (including Insecure and the Netflix comedy Master of None), director Melina Matsoukas doesn’t disappoint when it comes to a feature film. The new trailer stars Daniel Kaluuya (a retail worker) and Jodie Turner-Smith (a lawyer), who are forced to go on the run together after a shooting in self-defence forces them together.
I’m also really looking forward to the film since Lena Waithe has co-written the screenplay. As well as starring in and directing an episode of Matsoukas’ Master of None, she’s proven herself to be a funny, competent writer and has worked on numerous projects as an actress, writer and producer.
In a tweet, the Emmy Award winner revealed the new trailer with the caption: “Y’all the new Black Panthers? – Is that what this is? @QueenAndSlim #QueenAndSlim”
Y’all the new Black Panthers? – Is that what this is? @QueenAndSlim #QueenAndSlim pic.twitter.com/GqjHx5ecC7
— Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe) July 31, 2019
There will be inevitable comparisons to If Beale Street Could Talk, to Black Panther, and especially to Bonnie and Clyde — one of the characters even alludes to the reference within the trailer. But in a recent interview Matsoukas stated that the comparison is quite superficial: “the story of Queen & Slim is meant to be universal with its themes of love, capital punishment, police brutality and the unity of the country.” While Queen and Slim might be common nicknames, the characters are meant to give a universal view on racism, police behaviour and loyalty in contemporary America.
Kaluuya, who has been nominated for an Academy Award, may be in the running for next year’s ceremony with his appearance; meanwhile, he’ll be starring opposite Turner-Smith, in her first feature-length role. Queen & Slim promises to be a tense thriller with a whole spectrum of talent, with the immortal line rounding up the trailer: “Can I be your legacy?” The film will open for a wide release on November 27, 2019.
