Billy Porter Set To Play James Baldwin In Upcoming Biopic

Billy Porter, James Baldwin

Billy Porter Set To Play James Baldwin In Upcoming Biopic

Billy Porter is taking on the role of the incomparable James Baldwin.

On Wednesday (Apr. 12), Allen Media Group Motion Pictures announced that Billy Porter, 53, is set to play celebrated author and civil rights activist James Baldwin in an upcoming biopic.

In addition to the Pose actor starring in the film, he’s also been tapped to co-write the script with screenwriter Dan McCabe that will be based on David Leeming’s 1994 biography James Baldwin: A Biography. 

Porter had this to say in a statement about his latest endeavor:

“As a Black queer man on this planet with relative consciousness, I find myself, like James Baldwin said, ‘in a rage all the time.’ I am because James was. I stand on James Baldwin’s shoulders, and I intend to expand his legacy for generations to come.”

Billy Porter

You may recall that the Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer quoted James Baldwin during his acceptance speech at the 2019 Emmys:

“James Baldwin said, ‘[it] took many year of vomiting up all the filth that I had been taught about myself and halfway believed before I could walk around this earth like I had the right to be here.’ “

Billy Porter’s Incognegro Productions will co-produce the Baldwin biopic along with Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group. Allen said in a statement:

“We at Allen Media Group Motion Pictures are extremely passionate about sharing James Baldwin’s phenomenal story with the world.”

He continued,

“Billy Porter and Dan McCabe’s talent and commitment to amplifying James Baldwin’s legacy and contributions are invaluable and unmatched for this unique and epic story.”

Byron Allen

James Baldwin was a gay African American writer and civil rights activist. He garnered acclaim for his work across several mediums, including essays, novels, plays, and poems. The celebrated author is remembered for works such as Notes of a Native Son, The Fire Next Time, Go Tell it on the Mountain and If Beale Street Could Talk, which was adapted into the 2018 Oscar-winning movie.

Porter shared the good news with his supporters by reposting an article highlighting the upcoming project. 

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