“The Book of Clarence” is an upcoming biblical epic written and directed by Jeymes Samuel and starring LaKeith Stanfield. The film is scheduled to be released just after Christmas and features an interesting premise set during the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.
“The Book of Clarence” is inspired by classic Hollywood epics set in biblical times, such as “The Ten Commandments,” “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” “Samson and Delilah,” and “Ben-Hur.” However, those movies were made decades ago, so Samuel’s new epic looks to offer a fresh and surprising cinematic experience for lovers of the genre. Most notably, “The Book of Clarence” features a predominantly Black cast.
‘The Book of Clarence’ Plot
The film tells the story of Clarence, “a down-on-his-luck Jerusalemite who embarks on a misguided attempt to capitalize on the rise of celebrity and influence the Messiah for his own personal gain,” according to IMDB.com. Clarence’s journey leads him on an exploration of faith and to an unexpected path of self-discovery.
‘The Book of Clarence’ Cast
The movie features a star-studded cast. Stanfield (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) is joined in the cast by such high-profile actors as Omar Sy, RJ Cyler, Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
Samuel is known for his work on the films “They Die by Dawn” and “The Harder They Fall.” He makes his directorial debut with “The Book of Clarence.” Samuel also produced the film alongside Shawn Carter (Jay-Z), James Lassiter, and Lawrence Bender.
It is unknown what characters the remaining cast play, including who among them portrays “the Messiah,” presumably Jesus. Based on the depth of the cast, it is likely that the characters will include Mary the Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and a few of Jesus’ disciples. However, this is only a conjecture and not based on factual information from Legendary Pictures.
‘The Book of Clarence’ Trailer
The trailer for “The Book of Clarence” reveals the plot in a bit more detail. The trailer shows that Clarence and his lackey are bent on mimicking Jesus’ ministry in an effort to gain wealth. After some initial failure, Clarence succeeds in convincing the public that he has the power to perform miracles. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) for Clarence, the Romans would also like for him to prove his powers as the messiah.
The movie shares its title with a 2017 documentary about Clarence Fountain and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Fountain was an award-winning gospel artist lauded for his musical talents. But that documentary does not appear to have anything in common with the biblical epic other than its title.
‘The Book of Clarence’ Release Date
“The Book of Clarence” was originally scheduled to be released in September. However, it is currently scheduled to be released on January 12, 2024.
