Oscar winner Mahershala Ali’s debut film has finally been released, almost 25 years after being shelved.
Ali plays a fictional, egotistical revolutionary leader who compares himself to Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Moses in “Taste the Revolution,” a satirical political mockumentary written and directed by Dan Klein.
The long-lost film tells the story of two aspiring filmmakers who chronicle the story of charismatic revolutionary Mac Laslow (Ali) and a group of disillusioned college students who come together one summer to change the world. However, according to the official summary, “without a unifying direction and clear goals, the movement descends into chaos.”
Alexander Bilu, Jeremy Dubin, Jen Nails and Jeremy Beiler star alongside Ali, who also serves as an executive producer.
Ali isn’t the only Hollywood star to get his start on Revolutionary: Colin Trevorrow is a co-writer, co-stars and executive producer.
So why was Revolution shelved in 2001? Well, according to director Klein, after the events of 9/11, the film “immediately felt like a period piece.”
“Shortly after filming ended, the events of 9/11 permanently changed the world, and our film immediately felt like a period piece that never happened, so we buried it,” Klein said in a press statement. “A decade and a half later, our lead actor, Mahershala Ali, won his first Oscar for “Moonlight” and two years later, his second for “Green Book.” I shared a clip of the film with him and he immediately called and begged us to finish the film.”
Klein continued: “When we revisited this material, we realized that it seemed even more relevant 20 years later. Perhaps the film will, unfortunately, be evergreen, given that so many young people go through that stage of life where they have little and have plenty of time and passion, if not perspective and insight, to fully understand the nuances of reality. makes them champions.”
The feature film was made in 1999 and the main role was played by Ali, then a graduate of the acting school at New York University.
“Taste the Revolution” is produced by Maury Loeb, David Linke and Kevin Linke, and executive produced by Ali, Klein, Trevorrow and Phil Cohen.
Ali and Trevorrow are currently linked due to their involvement in the Jurassic Park franchise. While Trevorrow directed “Jurassic World: Dominion,” Ali is set to make his series debut in “Jurassic Park: Rebirth.” It was previously announced that Ali would lead Marvel’s “Blade” despite a five-year production delay.
“Taste the Revolution” will have its world premiere on October 19 at the New Orleans Film Festival. Distribution rights to the film are currently available. Check out the trailer below.
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