Following on from the news that the movie will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, Amazon Prime Video has announced that it has secured the rights to Regina King’s (If Beale Street Could Talk, Watchmen) directorial debut One Night in Miami, which takes place on the night of Cassius Clay’s shock upset against Sonny Liston in 1964 to become boxing’s Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Here’s the official synopsis…
Set on the night of February 25, 1964, the story follows a young Cassius Clay (before he became Muhammad Ali) as he emerges from the Miami Beach Convention Center the new World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Against all odds, he defeated Sonny Liston and shocked the sports world. While crowds of people swarm Miami Beach to celebrate the match, Clay – unable to stay on the island because of Jim Crow-era segregation laws – instead spends the night at the Hampton House Motel in one of Miami’s historically black neighborhoods celebrating with three of his closest friends: activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and football star Jim Brown. The next morning, the four men emerge determined to define a new world for themselves and their people.
“Amazon’s enthusiasm for One Night in Miami is both humbling and exciting,” said King. “I am honored to have them as partners on my feature film directorial debut.”
One Night in Miami is slated to arrive on Amazon Prime Video later this year, and features a cast that includes Eli Goree, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., Lance Reddick, and Nicolette Robinson.
