Billy Porter on the Importance of Carrying on James Baldwin's Legacy With New Biopic (Exclusive)
16.06.2023 - 05:35
/ etonline.com
Billy Porter may soon have a chance at an Oscar with an upcoming biopic about renowned author and civil rights icon James Baldwin. The star is not only set to portray Baldwin, but he has also been tapped to co-write the upcoming film alongside Dan McCabe.
For Porter, it's an opportunity to pay tribute to someone who he could look up to while growing up and making his way into the industry. «I stand on James Baldwin's shoulders,» Porter said while speaking to ET's Denny Directo during P&G and iHeartMedia's, where he performed his newest single, «Baby Was a Dancer.» «He was an African American, queer man at a time when there weren't many images, when there wasn't much representation for a person like me,» Porter continued.
He then added, «So, I get to carry on that specific legacy, and that's very special to me.» Born in Harlem, New York, Baldwin became one of American literature's most influential voices during the 1950s and the decades that followed thanks to his many essays and novels, including,, which was adapted into the Oscar-winning film by director Barry Jenkins, and. He also became a social and civil rights activist, working alongside Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, Jr.
and Malcolm X.First announced in April 2023, the untitled project from Allen Media Group Motion Pictures (AMGMP) will be adapted from David Leeming’s 1994 book,, with Byron Allen, Carolyn Folks, Jennifer Lucas, Matthew Signer and Chris Charalambous serving as executive producers with Porter and D.J. Gugenheim of Incognegro Productions onboard as producers.At the time, Porter said, «As a Black queer man on this planet with relative consciousness I find myself, like James Baldwin said, 'in a rage all the time.' I am because James was… I intend to
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