First Look! Spike Lee’s ‘CHI-RAQ’ Trailer

The official trailer for Spike Lee’s highly controversial film, Chi-Raq, has been released. Written by Lee and Kevin Willmott, the film is set in Chicago and is described as a satire and to have as a subject gang violence prevalent in some neighborhoods on the city’s south side, particularly, Englewood. The film is based on Lysistrata, a Greek comedy by Aristophanes.

The film’s title, a portmanteau of “Chicago” and “Iraq,”, has caused some controversy. Members of the City council and city residents have requested that Lee change the name of the film, going as far as to threaten the tax credits that the film maker will receive from the city.

The film stars Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Teyonah Parris, Jennifer Hudson, Steve Harris, Harry Lennix, D. B. Sweeney, Angela Bassett, John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.

[SEE THE TRAILER ON THE NEXT PAGE.]