Its official—Netflix is launching yet another legal drama this May, but it won’t be anything like your typical white-dominated TV series.
Titled Monster, the new film takes us into the shoes of a Black teen who navigates the legal system after being charged with felony murder and robbery.
The starring character Steve Harmon (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) seems like your traditional New York-based 17-year-old until the incarceration strikes. At such a young age, he’s forced to grapple with several trials
Under the former name All Rise, the movie produced by singer John Legend and a team of renowned artists made its premiere at a Sundance Film Festival back in 2018. Since then, Netflix has attained distribution rights and the streaming service is ready to launch the film for global audiences on May 7.
The trailer that made a public release on Tuesday left us with a major cliffhanger. After watching, we still have no clue whether Steve was racially profiled or if he truly committed two crimes.
Guilty or not, we still can’t wait to binge watch the entire film and uncover the verdict in one sitting as soon as it comes out next month.
‘Monster’ or racially profiled?
In the sneak peek, we see a white lawyer who clearly operates under racial biases as he accuses Steve of simply looking the part before we are brought to a trial scene. In court, things only get more heated when the same lawyer points a finger of privilege and yells, “He’s a monster!”
Regardless of who the real criminal may be, it’s so important how Monster exposes audiences everywhere to the tough realities some Black suspects still face today in 2021.
Legend who also wrote songs for the film cannot contain his excitement as the launch date approaches quickly. “I’m so proud to be a producer and songwriter for this beautiful film. I can’t wait for you to see Monster,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
I’m so proud to be a producer and songwriter for this beautiful film. I can’t wait for you to see Monster on @netflix May 7th. pic.twitter.com/1gdKGQNnm6
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 6, 2021
Harrison has also been vocal about his passion and excitement for the film’s greater social purpose.
“Five years ago I had the privilege of being in a movie that felt like an essay to America asking if they really saw me,” Harrison revealed to nearly 60k Instagram followers in a caption paired with the movie trailer. “Though so much has changed in the last five years, the defacement of our black men has not. I’m grateful to be able to release this movie but I do hope it loses its contemporary relevance soon.”
Got any plans to tune into Netflix and watch Monster when it launches on May 7? Share your thoughts by leaving a reaction below or tweeting @celebsecrets.
