Billy Porter to Star in James Baldwin Biopic

Billy Porter is preparing to portray the author and civil rights activist James Baldwin in an upcoming biopic.

He will also co-write the untitled movie with Dan McCabe, which will be adapted from the 1994 book James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming. An emeritus professor of English at the University of Connecticut, Leeming was well-versed in the world of Baldwin as his friend of 25 years as well as his assistant.

Porter says it has been a career-long dream to tell the story of Baldwin on film. Born in Harlem in 1924, Baldwin was a Black gay writer whose influential works include Go Tell It on the Mountain, Notes of a Native Son and If Beale Street Could Talk. In addition to writing, Baldwin fought for racial justice in the U.S. civil rights movement. In Leemings book, hes described as a complex, troubled, driven and brilliant man who has a gift for compassion and love.

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, Porter said. I stand on James Baldwins shoulders, and I intend to expand his legacy for generations to come.

Byron Allens Allen Media Group Motion Pictures will executive produce the film with Carolyn Folks, Jennifer Lucas, Matthew Signer and Chris Charalambous. Billy Porter and D.J. Gugenheim ofIncognegro Productionswill serve as producers.

We at Allen Media Group Motion Pictures are extremely passionate about sharing James Baldwins phenomenal story with the world, said Allen, the founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group. Billy Porter and Dan McCabes talent and commitment to amplifying James Baldwins legacy and contributions are invaluable and unmatched for this unique and epic story.

Porter, an Emmy winner for Pose and Tony winner for producing A Strange Loop, recently appeared alongside Camila Cabello in director Kay Cannons Cinderella remake. On television, he acted on The Twilight Zone for CBS All Access, American Horror Story: Apocalypse and narrated HBO Maxs Equal. Porter made his directorial debut with the high school coming-of-age film Anythings Possible written by Alvaro Garca Lecuona. And hes already lined up his next directing gig, helming queer teen comedy To Be Real from Gabrielle Unions Ill Have Another Productions.

McCabe is a New York-based screenwriter and playwright, whose works include The Purists (which Porter directed), as well as Blame the Parents. He and Porter also worked together on the original Peacock TV series Fruits of Thy Labour with producer Greg Berlanti. McCabes feature The Home is currently in development at Paramount.