While Lee Daniels really got his start in Hollywood as a producer on films such as “Monster’s Ball” and “The Woodsman,” most film fans recognize him for his directorial efforts “The Paperboy,” “The Butler,” and of course, the Oscar-winning feature, “Precious.” But after a stint in TV, where he launched shows such as “Empire” and “Star,” it’s now been seven years since we’ve seen a feature film from Daniels. Thankfully, he’s set to rectify that with the upcoming “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.”
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And with the film scheduled to arrive in early 2021, Vanity Fair has the first look at the new drama, which, as the title suggests, tackles the life and career of legendary singer, Billie Holiday. The first-look photos definitely show that a lot of care has been put into the style of the period film, showcasing the glamour of Holiday. But this isn’t just a typical biopic, as the story goes further into the FBI’s investigation into the singer and her drug issues, which is a result of a target that was placed on her due to her political messaging in her music and her desire for more integration between folks in society.
As mentioned, the film is directed by Daniels, based on a script by playwright Suzan-Lori Parks. ‘Billie Holiday’ stars Andra Day as the iconic singer. The film marks Day’s live-action feature film debut. The Grammy-nominated singer made her big-screen debut in ‘Cars 3,’ but clearly, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” is really the breakout role she was looking for. She’s joined in the cast by Trevante Rhodes, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Garrett Hedlund.
While release dates are a tricky thing right now, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” is expected to arrive on February 12. We’ll just have to wait and see if that date sticks. If so, this would put the film right in the thick of awards contention.
You can see the new photos below:
