After landing an Oscar nomination for playing real-life civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in the Netflix film Rustin, Colman Domingo will take on another real-life personality John “Divine G” Whitfield, author and founder of Divine G Entertainment in the A24 film, Sing Sing.
The plot of Sing Sing follows a group of inmates at Sing Sing maximum security prison involved in the creation of theatrical stage shows particularly Breakin The Mummy’s Code through the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program.
Domingo’s Divine G was imprisoned at Sing Sing after being wrongfully accused but found solace within the prison’s theater arts program. A24’s logline calls the film a “stirring true story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.” Domingo’s co-stars include Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin and Sean San Jose who were real-life prisoners at Sing Sing who took part in the program. Maclin will portray himself, while Jose will play Mike Mike. Paul Raci will also be a part of the cast with direction by Greg Kwedar.
In the recently released trailer, Divine G is shown simply staring into the abyss while reciting lines. The scene then shifts to Divine G’s clemency hearing for his 25-to-life sentencing. The board, however, reviews his time in prison, citing that Divine G has been involved in the theatre program and inquires if he was acting. Lastly, scenes of Divine G and his fellow inmates in the theatre program are depicted and the magic it involves in transforming the incarcerated are highlighted.
The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Special Presentations program. Sing Sing will also screen at this year’s SXSW. Sing Sing will be released by A24 in July.
Watch the trailer below.