Global Road Entertainment and 51 Minds Entertainment-produced feature “Beats,” starring Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”), has started production in Chicago, Netflix announced on Friday.
Chris Robinson (“ATL,” “The New Edition Story”) is directing from an original screenplay by Miles Feldsott.
“Beats” is an urban coming of age drama where the paths of a young musical prodigy (Khalil Everage) with borderline agoraphobia, and a former music manager (Anthony Anderson) who fell from grace, collide on Chicago’s South Side, and the unlikely duo must come together to free each other from the demons of their past. “Beats” is the ultimate ode to Chicago and its hip hop scene, as it illustrates the beating pulse at the heart of the South Side.
The “Beats” filmmakers went for authenticity over experience by casting newcomer Khalil Everage, a seventeen-year-old from Chicago’s very own South Side, in his first lead role opposite Anderson.
Beats will feature music from both established and rising Chicago based hip-hop producers and artists – including original music from elite hip-hop producer Young Chop, who was born and bred on Chicago’s South Side.
Additional cast includes Uzo Aduba (“Orange is the New Black”), Emayatzy Corinealdi (“Middle of Nowhere,” “Roots”), Paul Walter Hauser (“I, Tonya,” “BlacKkKlansman”), as well as hip hop artists Dave East and Dreezy.
Bob Teitel, Christian Sarabia, and Glendon Palmer are producing. Anthony Anderson, Carrie Holt de Lama, Mitch Smith, E. Brian Dobbins, Chris Robinson are the executive producers.
The film will be released on Netflix in 2019.