We have the first look at Jamie’s upcoming drama Just Mercy. Warner Bros released two new pictures from the movie. Check out them in our gallery.
Just Mercy follows the real-life story of Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), who went to Alabama to help defend those who are wrongly condemned in the racially-charged state. One of those men is Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), a pulpwood worker sentenced to death for capital murder despite evidence proving his innocence.
The movie is based on Stevenson’s 2014 memoir Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.
Michael B. Jordan told Deadline that he was determined to convince Jamie Foxx to take on the role.
“I called him and I thought he was perfect for it,” Jordan said. “It’s really hard to make movies in general, just everything has to line up perfectly, everybody’s schedule has to work out, and we were able to get Jamie.”
“I wanted to remind people who Jamie Foxx was. I think people forgot over the years, that this is the man who played Ray [Charles], who won that Academy Award, and this was the type of material that was going to show people that, and he took it seriously,” Jordan said, adding that Foxx helped elevate the film.
“He was a great scene partner. He helped me out a lot while shooting this film,” Jordan said. “I just can’t imagine anybody else taking on that role.”
Just Mercy is set to make its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 6, 2019. The drama will get a limited release December 25 and expand into wide release January 10.