There is only one way to describe Netflix's upcoming film The Harder They Fall: epic! On Thursday, the streaming service shared the first teaser trailer for the upcoming western film, and fans have been raving ever since. Not only does it look action-packed, but the cast is truly stacked with Idris Elba — who starred in Netflix western Concrete Cowboy [1] alongside Caleb McLaughlin earlier this year — Regina King, and Jonathan Majors.
Director Jeymes Samuel spoke with Shadow and Act about his desire to create a Black western [2]. "I really, really loved westerns, but I would just see a really clear inconsistency with the portrayals of people of colour, basically in the Old West and being such a fan of actors like Woody Strode, who was amazing in Spartacus but then you'll see him pop up in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and he couldn't get a drink in the bar," he noted. "I just grew up wanting to know more about people of colour and women and all of these ideas of the Old West that I was not getting from the Hollywood movies. And so I would just buy books and would . . . uncover amazing characters — both heroes and villains, both men and women of all colours."
He added: "I believe that The Harder They Fall fits firmly in the Western [canon], because the Western, when Hollywood was doing it, was fresh. The choice of music they would use, it was fresh at the time. It wasn't actually cowboy music. So, it's a perfect addition to the genre and brings it into 2021 and forward." Learn more about the upcoming film ahead.
The Harder They Fall Plot
The Western film follows an outlaw named Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) who finds out that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison. In an effort to seek revenge on his foe, he rounds up a group of people to help him track Rufus down.
The Harder They Fall Cast
In addition to Majors and Elba, the film has a star-studded cast including Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, R.J. Cyler, Damon Wayans Jr., Deon Cole, and Regina King. Not to mention, the production team is also stacked. Jeymes Samuel is pulling triple duty as director, a producer, and a writer, Boaz Yakin is co-writing, and the rest of the producers include Shawn Carter (aka JAY-Z), James Lassiter, Lawrence Bender, and Jeymes Samuel.
The Harder They Fall Release Date
An official release date hasn't been announced yet, but it is expected to hit select theatres and Netflix this fall.