Cast of Judas and the Black Messiah

Now playing in select theaters and on HBO Max, you can watch the latest movie from Shaka King, Judas and the Black Messiah.

A powerful story inspired by true events marks the Shaka King studio feature film directorial debut. The project, originally from King and his writing partner, Will Berson, follows the FBI informant William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). A career thief, O’Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons). Hampton’s political prowess grows just as he’s falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback).

Meanwhile, O’Neal faces a dilemma, to do what’s right or to do what’s best for him, because there are things you definitely don’t want to be remembered for – and one of them is for being a “Judas.” But, spending years behind bars doesn’t seem appealing either. Will he align with the forces of good, or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means necessary, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) commands?