Survivor’s Remorse star Teyonah Parris is in negotiations to join Kiki Layne and Stephan James in IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, which is director Barry Jenkins’ follow-up to his Best Picture-winning Moonlight.
The film follows Tish (Layne), a young, pregnant woman and her family as they struggle to get her fiance (James) out of jail, all while trying to maintain some semblance of happiness during hard times. The film is billed as a celebration of love told through the story of a young couple and their families.
While scheduling issues still need to be worked out, Parris is making a deal to play Tish’s streetwise sister, Ernestine, who is determined to help her future brother-in-law prove his innocence.
Jenkins is directing from his own screenplay, which is adapted from the James Baldwin novel of the same name. Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures is financing the film, and producing alongside Jenkins’ PASTEL banner and Brad Pitt’s company Plan B.
Production is expected to start production in October, and the film will likely hit theaters sometime next year.
Best known for playing Missy Vaughn on the popular Starz series Survivor’s Remorse, Parris is no stranger to the indie world, having starred in Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq and Justin Simien’s film Dear White People. She also co-starred alongside David Oyelowo in Five Nights in Maine, and has worked with directors such as James L. Brooks and David Wain. Additionally, Parris had a recurring role on AMC’s Mad Men, and she also starred in and produced the TV movie Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story.
Source; The Tracking Board
