A young PresidentBarack Obama battles racial profiling in the gripping first trailer for upcoming Netflix biopic Barry. The scene begins in 1981, when Obama is a junior at Columbia University. He gets targeted by a police officer on the streets of New York City. You got some ID? the cop asks, prompting the college student to stand up for himself: I dont see you IDing them, he responds. So whats so special about me, huh?
The clip, set to Anthony Hamiltons surging Souls On Fire, portrays Obama as a frustrated student, determined to figure out his purpose in life. You know Im the only black person in four of my five classes? says Obama, played by Australian actor Devon Terrell. The trailer also highlights the young politicians growing confidence between snippets of him playing basketball and dancing at a nightclub.
Director Vikram Gandhi (HBOs Vice) helmed the project from a script by Adam Mansbach both are Columbia University alumni. The Barry cast also features Ashley Judd, Jenna Elfman, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch), Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton), Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood) and Avi Nash (Silicon Valley).
Barry premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September and debuts on Netflix December 16th.