MGM has decided to reschedule the limited release of Cord Jefferson’s inaugural directorial project, “American Fiction,” to December 15, with a wider release set for December 22. The move aims to capitalize on the holiday viewing season. Initially, the film was slated for a limited release on November 3, followed by a broader release on November 10 and 17.
The film recently gained significant momentum after securing the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 17, enhancing its prospects for Oscar recognition. Notably, past recipients of this award, like “Green Book,” “12 Years a Slave,” and “Nomadland,” have gone on to snag the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Peter Debruge, a film critic for Variety, lauded the movie for offering a more complex view of Black identity, praising particularly Jeffrey Wright’s subtle yet powerful performance.
“American Fiction,” based on Percival Everett’s novel “Erasure” from 2001, is a sharp critique of how the publishing world handles Black narratives. The star-studded cast includes not just Wright, but also Tracee Ellis Ross, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Sterling K. Brown, Myra Lucretia Taylor, John Ortiz, Issa Rae, and Adam Brody.
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