Netflix has acquired a feature film from producer Spike Lee. The sci-fi tale, See You Yesterday, comes from first-time writer-director Stefon Bristol.
The film follows two science prodigies, C.J. and Sebastian, who build make-shift time machines to save C.J.’s brother from being wrongfully killed by a police officer. It’s based on Bristol’s NYU Film School thesis of the same name.
Bristol’s short, which was also produced by Lee, has already gained serious traction. It won Best HBO Short Film Award at Martha’s Vineyard-African American Film Festival and was a finalist at the HBO Short Film Competition at the prestigious American Black Film Festival. Through this competition, Bristol was able to license the short film to HBO and affiliate networks, via HBO Go and HBO Now. It’s currently available to stream on Cinemax’s streaming platform, Max Go.
“I started this project when Mike Brown and Eric Gardner were murdered. That was in 2014. And we are still dealing with deadly police misconduct. I made this film because I don’t want the conversation on police brutality to slow down. I’ve never seen a film quite like this before – a sci-fi movie with brilliant Black teenagers. CJ and Sebastian represent a Brooklyn that we rarely get to see. CJ is a no-nonsense, brutally honest, aspiring astrophysicist. Sebastian is an overachieving, science prodigy whose main goal in life is to have over 200 patented inventions. I think the audience will relate to these charismatic characters. And we can both entertain and make you think,” said Bristol.
The feature film stars newcomers Eden Duncan-Smith and Danté Crichlow alongside rapper Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley (I Am the Night), Johnathan Nieves (Better Call Saul), Marsha S. Blake (Orange is the New Black), Wavvy Jonez (The Real), Myra Lucretia Taylor (The Big Sick), and Ron Bobb Semple. Executive Producers are Matthew Myers (Irreplaceable You) and Jason Sokoloff (She’s Gotta Have It).
Lee’s most recent directorial feature, BlacKkKlansman, is currently campaigning for awards season.
See You Yesterday is expected to premiere on Netflix sometime in 2019.
