{"id":71277,"date":"2015-02-24T13:26:28","date_gmt":"2015-02-24T13:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2015\/02\/24\/hbo-to-air-dee-rees-bessie-starring-queen-latifah-on-may-16\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T03:49:27","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T03:49:27","slug":"hbo-to-air-dee-rees-bessie-starring-queen-latifah-on-may-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/hbo-to-air-dee-rees-bessie-starring-queen-latifah-on-may-16\/","title":{"rendered":"HBO To Air Dee Rees&#8217; Bessie, Starring Queen Latifah, On May 16"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>HBO To Air Dee Rees&#8217; Bessie, Starring Queen Latifah, On May 16<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n<p>February 24, 2015<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/bessie-latifah.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-expand=\"600\" class=\"lazyload alignleft size-medium wp-image-63557\" alt=\"bessie-latifah\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 300 300'%2F%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/bessie-latifah-300x300.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>HBO has confirmed the debut date for<strong> BESSIE<\/strong>, with the HBO Films presentation scheduled to debut SATURDAY, MAY 16 at 8:00 p.m. (ET\/PT) on HBO.<\/p>\n<p>Starring Oscar nominee <strong>Queen Latifah <\/strong>(\u201cChicago\u201d) in the title role, BESSIE focuses on legendary blues singer Bessie Smith\u2019s transformation from a struggling young singer into \u201cThe Empress of the Blues,\u201d one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today.<\/p>\n<p>Directed by<strong> Dee Rees <\/strong>from a screenplay by Rees and <strong>Christopher Cleveland <\/strong>&amp; <strong>Bettina Gilois<\/strong>, with a story by Rees and <strong>Horton Foote<\/strong>, BESSIE is executive produced by <strong>Richard D. Zanuck, Lili Fini Zanuck, Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, Shelby Stone<\/strong> and <strong>Randi Michel<\/strong>.<strong> Ron Schmidt <\/strong>produces.<\/p>\n<p>The film also stars <strong>Michael Kenneth Williams<\/strong> as Bessie\u2019s husband, Jack Gee; <strong>Khandi Alexander<\/strong> as Bessie\u2019s older sister, Viola; <strong>Tory Kittles<\/strong> as Bessie\u2019s older brother, Clarence; <strong>Mike Epps<\/strong> as Richard, a bootlegger and romantic interest; <strong>Tika Sumpter<\/strong> as Lucille, a performer and romantic interest; <strong>Oliver Platt<\/strong> as famed photographer and writer Carl Van Vechten; <strong>Bryan Greenberg<\/strong> as renowned record producer and music critic John Hammond; with<strong> Charles S. Dutton<\/strong> as Ma Rainey\u2019s husband, William \u201cPa\u201d Rainey; and Oscar winner <strong>Mo\u2019Nique<\/strong> as blues legend Ma Rainey.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Queen-Latifah-as-Bessie.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-expand=\"600\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter size-full wp-image-61180\" alt=\"Queen Latifah as Bessie\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 580 408'%2F%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Queen-Latifah-as-Bessie.jpg\" width=\"580\" height=\"408\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BZVD8QqNoak\" height=\"315\" width=\"580\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-71277 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/producer-walter-latham-comedy-after-dark-youtube\/cad-logo-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CAD-logo-2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CAD-logo-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CAD-logo-2-192x192.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CAD-logo-2-384x384.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CAD-logo-2-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CAD-logo-2-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CAD-logo-2-311x311.jpg 311w, 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https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pacific-Rim-banner-1a-2-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pacific-Rim-banner-1a-2-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/ruby-sparks\/ruby-sparks-poster-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Ruby-Sparks-poster-2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Ruby-Sparks-poster-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Ruby-Sparks-poster-2-192x192.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Ruby-Sparks-poster-2-384x384.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Ruby-Sparks-poster-2-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Ruby-Sparks-poster-2-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Ruby-Sparks-poster-2-311x311.jpg 311w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Ruby-Sparks-poster-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Ruby-Sparks-poster-2-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/robinne-lee-talks-the-undershepherd-miss-dial-and-being-mary-jane\/robinne-lee-1-4\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Robinne-Lee-1-4-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Robinne-Lee-1-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Robinne-Lee-1-4-192x192.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Robinne-Lee-1-4-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Robinne-Lee-1-4-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Robinne-Lee-1-4-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/the-day\/the-day-poster-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Day-poster-2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Day-poster-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Day-poster-2-192x192.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Day-poster-2-384x384.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Day-poster-2-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Day-poster-2-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Day-poster-2-311x311.jpg 311w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Day-poster-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Day-poster-2-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/watch-danai-gurira-as-michonne-in-walking-dead-season-3-clip\/walking-dead-comic-con-4\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/walking-dead-comic-con-4-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/walking-dead-comic-con-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/walking-dead-comic-con-4-192x192.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/walking-dead-comic-con-4-384x384.jpg 384w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/walking-dead-comic-con-4-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/walking-dead-comic-con-4-220x220.jpg 220w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/walking-dead-comic-con-4-311x311.jpg 311w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/walking-dead-comic-con-4-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/walking-dead-comic-con-4-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"margin: 5pt 1em 1em 5pt; float: right;\">\n<p><a type=\"box_count\" name=\"fb_share\"><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.ak.fbcdn.net\/connect.php\/js\/FB.Share\"><\/script><a class=\"twitter-share-button\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\">Tweet<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Also featured in the film are Michael K. Williams, Khandi Alexander, Tory Kittles, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter, and Oscar winner Mo\u2019Nique as blues legend Ma Rainey. <a class=\"g1-link g1-link-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/hbo-to-air-dee-rees-bessie-starring-queen-latifah-on-may-16\/\">More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":71428,"comment_status":"1","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,143],"tags":[],"reaction":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-71277","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"category-read"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.7 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>HBO To Air Dee Rees&#039; Bessie, Starring Queen Latifah, On May 16 - blackfilm.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/hbo-to-air-dee-rees-bessie-starring-queen-latifah-on-may-16\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"HBO To Air Dee Rees&#039; Bessie, Starring Queen Latifah, On May 16\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Also featured in the film are Michael K. 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