On Tuesday (August 29), Sony Pictures Entertainment released the trailer for their upcoming film The Book of Clarence, slated to release on January 12, 2024. Written and directed by Jeymes Samuel, the film stars world-renowned actor Lakeith Stanfield, and includes Jay-Z as one of the four producers. To help promote The Book of Clarence, Jay-Z reactivated his official Instagram page yesterday to post the two-minute-long trailer for the movie, two years after initially deleting his account.
Only about half a year away from release, the upcoming film sees Stanfield’s character Clarence attempt to found his own cult in Jerusalem in 33 AD, inspired by witnessing the rise of Jesus of Nazareth first-hand. The movie also includes appearances from Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy, Teyana Taylor, Caleb McLaughlin, Nicholas Pinnock, and more.
Videos by American Songwriter
“I wanted to tell a Bible story about an everyman,” Samuel told Vanity Fair in an interview Tuesday. “I always wanted to explore the Bible stories, but from the angle of the person that sells Jesus his sandals, the woman or man that owns the hair salon.”
[RELATED: The Audacious Meaning Behind Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Kanye West’s “Run This Town”]
This will be the second time Jay-Z has been enlisted as a producer for one of Samuels’ projects, as he also worked on the 2021 film The Harder They Fall starring Idris Elba. Samuel and Hov’s relationship first began in 2017, as Samuel produced Hov’s 10-minute short film Legacy, which served as the music video for the tenth song on Jay-Z’s thirteenth studio album 4:44.
“He has this fearlessness to him,” Jay-Z said of Samuel in the same Vanity Fair interview. “He’s very confident, but it’s not off-putting.”
Vouching for the arc of Clarence in the story, as he feared audiences may dislike Stanfield’s character, Jay-Z explained to Vanity Fair that he wants everyone to go into the movie with an open mind.
“This story is about a young man who finds his faith through love and through wanting to become somebody in the world, which is the story of everybody,” Jay-Z told Vanity Fair in the same interview. “Everyone wants to find love and everyone wants to leave this place having accomplished something, having left their mark that they’ve been here and hopefully affected the world in a positive way.”
Watch the trailer for The Book of Clarence below.
Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (NOT TO BE LICENSED FOR ANY STANDALONE OR SPECIAL INTEREST BOOK PUBLISHING USE CONCERNING THE COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL AND/OR STAGECOACH MUSIC FESTIVAL) Wynonna Judd is seen at Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse during the 2026 Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 25, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Stagecoach) -
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Producer Manuel Seal arrives at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on February 8, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 17: Kenny Chesney performs on NBC's "Today" Citi Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza on September 17, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Valerie Terranova/Getty Images) -
19th May 1967: The Beatles (left to right) Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison (1943 – 2001) and John Lennon (1940 – 1980) at a photocall for the launch of their new album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', held at Brian Epstein's house at 24 Chapel Street, London. Lennon is wearing an afghan jacket and a sporran. (Photo by John Downing/Getty Images) -
TWIN LAKES, WISCONSIN – JULY 18: Dasha performs at Country Thunder Wisconsin at Shadow Hill Ranch on July 18, 2026 in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joshua Applegate/Getty Images) -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 27: Charles Kelley performs at EXIT/IN on August 27, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) -
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 17: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. Kacey Musgraves performs onstage during the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) -
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 18: Frank Turner performs at O2 Guildhall Southampton on April 18, 2025 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mark Holloway/Redferns)