Meek Mill’s Film Debut ‘Charm City Kings’ Set for April Release After Sundance Premiere
Angel Manuel Soto directs film that will make its debut in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the festival
Brian Welk | December 17, 2019 @ 7:13 AM
Last Updated: December 17, 2019 @ 7:35 AM
Sony Pictures Classics
Sony Pictures Classics announced Tuesday that it will release “Charm City Kings,” one of the films playing this year in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at Sundance, on April 10, 2020.
The film by Angel Manuel Soto stars the rapper Meek Mill in his film debut, and it will open in North America on April 10 followed by a wide release on April 17 after its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
Sherman Payne wrote the screenplay that comes from a story by Chris Boyd, Kirk Sullivan and “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins, and it’s inspired by a 2013 documentary of the same name by Lofty Nathan.
“Charm City Kings” is the story of Mouse (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) desperately wants to join Baltimore’s infamous Midnight Clique, a fearless group of dirt bike riders who rule the summertime streets. When Midnight’s leader, Blax (Meek Mill), takes the 14-year-old Mouse under his wing, Mouse soon finds himself torn between the straight-and-narrow and a road filled with fast money and violence.
Winston and Mill star opposite Will Catlett, Teyonah Parris, Donielle Tremaine Hansley and Kezii Curtis. “Charm City Kings” is produced by Caleeb Pinkett, Clarence Hammond and Marc Bienstock and executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, and James Lassiter of Overbrook Entertainment.
“Growing up in Puerto Rico as an aspiring filmmaker, I would’ve never fathomed having my film open with the same logo as many of my favorite films and have its world premiere in Sundance,” the director Soto said in a statement. “I’ve always admired Sony Pictures Classics’ extraordinary taste and curatorial eye, and to be a part of their roster is a dream come true. I am forever thankful to Caleeb and Clarence from Overbrook for giving me the privilege of bringing this beautiful story to life with such a talented cast and crew, and I can’t think of a better company to bring ‘Charm City Kings’ and its message to the world.”
“We are excited to be bringing this richly energized and timely drama to American audiences. Angel Manuel Soto is an important voice in independent film and we look forward to celebrating him and the movie at the world premiere in Sundance. And it is great to be in business again with our friends at Overbrook,” Sony Pictures Classics said in a statement.
The film will first debut on Monday, Jan. 27 as part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at Sundance, which runs between Jan. 3 to Feb. 2.
10 Movie Hits Launched at Sundance in 2018, From 'Won't You Be My Neighbor' to 'Eighth Grade' (Photos)
Even though last year's Sundance didn't see studios break the bank to acquire a movie, the Park City festival was still the launch pad for several future indie hits that competed or premiered there. Here are the biggest ones from the last 12 months.
“Colette” ($5.1 million domestic) — Our list opens with Keira Knightley's portrayal of the author of the "Claudine" novels, who strikes out on her own after her manipulative husband takes the novels to Paris and claims that he wrote them. Bleecker Street bought the film for $4 million and saw a minor return on the film.
“Leave No Trace” ($6 million) -- "Winter's Bone" director Debra Granik won praise from indie circles for her gentle direction of a single father and his teenage daughter's wayward journey from one home to another after being caught living off the grid.
"Tully" ($9.4 million) -- The buzz for Charlize Theron's performance as a weary single mother began with a surprise screening at Sundance, going on to gross just under $10 million domestically.
“Three Identical Strangers” ($12.3 million) — Director Tim Wardle received a Special Jury Prize at Sundance for his competition-screened telling of triplets who were separated at birth thanks to an unethical behavioral science experiment. “Strangers” was one of four documentaries in 2018 to gross over $12 million at the box office, the first time that has ever happened in a calendar year.
“Eighth Grade” ($13.5 million) — It was snubbed by the Sundance jury AND the Academy, but “Eighth Grade” was still a striking debut for both its director, Bo Burnham, and its lead star, Elsie Fisher. The coming-of-age tale earned one of the highest opening per screen averages of the year, as A24 also held free screenings for teens to get around the film’s R rating.
“RBG” ($14 million) — Last year saw Ginsburg Mania hit a fever pitch, highlighted by the success of Magnolia Pictures’ documentary on the Supreme Court Justice released in the middle of a blockbuster-loaded May. And now it has earned Magnolia its second straight Oscar nomination, joining last year's doc "I Am Not Your Negro"
“Sorry to Bother You” ($17.5 million) — Boots Riley’s directorial debut became an instant cult classic with its bizarre imagery and cutting social commentary. It was purchased by Annapurna in an effort to built its distribution wing and became its first legit indie box office hit.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” ($22.8 million) — Morgan Neville’s ode to Mister Rogers might have been shockingly snubbed from the Oscars, but it was still the most talked about film at Sundance and one of the most popular docs of the past decade. Released in the summer, it now ranks as one of the top 10 highest grossing nonfiction films of all-time.
“Searching” ($26 million) — The feature debut of Indian-American filmmaker Aneesh Chaganty made a huge splash in Sundance’s Next section and made a mint after being released by Sony in the late summer. Made on a paltry $1 million budget and bought for $5 million, “Searching” stars John Cho and tells the story of a father searching for his disappeared daughter, with almost the whole film being told on smartphone and computer screens.
“Hereditary” ($44.1 million) — The biggest box office hit of Sundance 2018 was a midnight section film produced by A24. “Hereditary” earned critical and audience acclaim for its disturbing portrayal of grief and its destructive power, and was declared by many to be the finest performance of Toni Collette’s career.
1 of 11
Several films that premiere or compete in Park City go on to become the indie darlings of tomorrow
Even though last year's Sundance didn't see studios break the bank to acquire a movie, the Park City festival was still the launch pad for several future indie hits that competed or premiered there. Here are the biggest ones from the last 12 months.
