In his last year in office, a second film on President Obama has been put into development (the first is "Southside With You," the Sundance drama which Miramax picked up, which follows a young Barack Obama and future First Lady Michelle Robinson on their first date, during the summer of 1989).
The second feature, titled "Barry," will also focus on a young Barack Obama – an even younger Obama – a college student living in New York City in 1981, trying to find his way, when he has a fateful encounter with a young woman.
Devon Terrell (who, you might recall, was cast as the lead in Steve McQueen’s upcoming HBO series "Codes of Conduct") has booked the lead role in "Barry," playing Obama, and Anya Taylor-Johnson (star of "The Witch," currently in theaters) will co-star as the young woman.
Vikram Gandhi, a Vice correspondent and director of the documentary "Kumare," will direct the film for producer Black Bear Pictures ("The Imitation Game") and Cinetic Media, with filming expected to begin in April.
Adam Mansbach ("Go the F*** to Sleep," "Angry Black White Boy") is penning the script.
No release date has been set yet, although I’ll look for a premiere some time in 2017.
As for the other "young Obama" movie, a late summer 2016 release is eyed for "Southside With You" from director Tanne, starring Tika Sumpter, who plays Michelle; while Parker Sawyers, known for parts in "Zero Dark Thirty" (2012) and "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" (2014), plays Barack Obama.
Meanwhile, HBO’s "Codes of Conduct" should premiere in the next TV season.
A little about Terrell: The California-born, Perth, Australia-raised actor studied acting at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, where he was later accepted into Australia’s prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2011, where he’s been developing his craft since. He doesn’t even have any IMDB credits yet (except for "Codes of Conduct"), so these 2 castings should certainly put him in the spotlight. It’s quite a coup to land what will likely be rather high profile projects (notably the McQueen HBO series), almost right out of school.
The Hollywood Reporter was first to announce the news on "Barry."