Columbia Pictures released the first trailer for the Matthew McConaughey starrer White Boy Rick. Directed by Yann Demange (’71) and produced by Darren Aronofsky, the film takes place in 1980s Detroit and tells the true story of a blue-collar father (McConaughey) and his teenage son (Richie Merritt), who became an undercover police informant and later a drug dealer, but whose life spiraled quickly after he was abandoned by his handlers.
Check out the trailer for White Boy Rick below:
The real-life Wershe Jr.’s story was previously the subject of a true-crime documentary, which exposed the inherent corruption that went into his conviction. Arrested in 1987 at age 17 for cocaine possession, Wershe Jr. spending nearly 30 years in prisons. Presently, he is serving time for his involvement behind a stolen car ring in a Florida Prison. Wershe Sr. (whom McConaughey plays in the film) died in 2014, without seeing his son out of prison.
McConaughey met with Wershe Jr., telling USA Today that he admitted his guilt, but was repentant.
“He never claimed to be a saint, but at the same time he was adamant that he never had the amount of drugs he was busted for,” McConaughey says. “He also understands that when he does become a free man, he will still be seen as (having) an outstanding debt to society.”
The 2014 historical thriller ’71, but that directorial debut is such a grounded, intense firecracker that anyone who saw it knows the French director is extremely talented when it comes to crafting gripping psychological action. The film’s gripping and taut construction even got Demange’s name propelled into the short list for potential James Bond directors. In addition to ’71 and White Boy Rick, Demange has been confirmed to direct the pilot of J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele’s upcoming HBO drama series Lovecraft Country.
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern, Bel Powley, and Piper Laurie also star while Demange directs a screenplay by Steve Kloves, Logan Miller, Noah Miller, and Andy Weiss.
White Boy Rick will open in select theaters September 14 before expanding nationwide a week later on September 21.
Images: Columbia Studio 8, Sony
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