HBO has announced its documentary line up for the second half of 2017.
Of Shadow & Act’s interest, there is a documentary on Muhammad Ali, directed by Antoine Fuqua and has a lineup of executive producers including LeBron James. There is also Baltimore Rising, a documentary from actress Sonja Sohn (The Wire) on a divided Baltimore in the wake of Freddie Gray’s fatal shooting. This seems to be Sohn’s directorial debut.
Read the synopsis below:
Muhammad Ali: This untitled multi-part documentary explores Ali’s greatest triumphs and comebacks, painting an intimate portrait of a man who, against all odds, dreamed and achieved the impossible, over and over again. The production will feature archival footage and gorgeous cinematic recreations that transport viewers into the ring and at home with “The Greatest of All Time,” as well as never-before-seen photos and footage from private collections of the Ali family and others. An HBO Entertainment presentation in association with SpringHill Entertainment and Fuqua Films; executive producers, LeBron James, Antoine Fuqua, Maverick Carter, Paul Wachter, Bill Gerber, Jamie Salter and Glen Zipper; directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Baltimore Rising: This documentary explores a city divided in the wake of the 2015 arrest of Freddie Gray and his subsequent death in police custody, which sparked weeks of protests and riots. Told through the journeys of local activists, police officers, community residents and gang affiliates, it shows a city grappling with its history of police brutality, as well as crime and decades of economic disenfranchisement, as six law enforcement officers are brought to trial, but none are convicted. A revealing behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make change, when change is hard, the film shows a distraught and damaged community on an ever-elusive search for both justice and the common humanity of people who have previously seen each other only as adversaries. Directed by Sonja Sohn. Debuts in November.
At the TCA press tour in Pasadena this week, Rohm said, “The people of Baltimore are actually engaging in a much more sophisticated conversation than I was hearing or at least that the media was covering in other cities. So at that point, it was simply my love for the community, my love for justice and my mission… and I feel like my purpose is to make the world a better place and to fight for justice and truth and freedom.”