Regina King’s feature directorial debut has secured distribution ahead of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Amazon Studios snagged the rights to “One Night in Miami,” a press release announced.
Based on Kemp Powers’ 2013 stage play of the same name, the pic is set on the night of February 25, 1964, and “the story follows a young Cassius Clay (before he became Muhammad Ali) as he emerges from the Miami Beach Convention Center the new World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Against all odds, he defeated Sonny Liston and shocked the sports world. While crowds of people swarm Miami Beach to celebrate the match, Clay — unable to stay on the island because of Jim Crow-era segregation laws — instead spends the night at the Hampton House Motel in one of Miami’s historically black neighborhoods celebrating with three of his closest friends: activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke, and football star Jim Brown. The next morning, the four men emerge determined to define a new world for themselves and their people,” the project’s synopsis details.
“’One Night in Miami’ beautifully captures a significant moment in history when these great minds gathered and ultimately helped shape the conversation of what we know today as the civil rights movement,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “Regina King is a force of nature – mastering her craft in front of the camera as we’ve seen in her extensive body of work, and now taking her talent behind the camera. We’re so proud to welcome Regina and Kemp to the Amazon family.”
King, who is among the pic’s exec producers, added, “Amazon’s enthusiasm for ‘One Night in Miami’ is both humbling and exciting. I am honored to have them as partners on my feature film directorial debut.”
Amazon Studios is planning to release the film later this year.
King won an Oscar for her supporting role in “If Beale Street Could Talk.” While accepting the Golden Globe for her performance in the drama, King made a public pledge: within two years, women will make up 50 percent of the crew for projects she produces. She’s up for an Emmy this year for her leading role in HBO’s “Watchmen.” A three-time Emmy winner, she took home a statuette for “Seven Seconds” and two for “American Crime.”
“One Night in Miami” is slated to screen at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, set to take place September 10-19. Forty-six percent of the feature lineup is directed or co-directed by women.
“Use the microphone and the platform you have, of any size, in any industry, to bring more attention to female-centric accomplishments,” King urged in a 2019 essay for USA Today. Her many TV directing credits include “Insecure,” “This Is Us,” and “Scandal.”
