Comcast subsidiary Focus Features released the trailer for their upcoming film, The American Society of Magical Negroes from director and writer Kobi Libbi, in which it declares that the most dangerous animal on the planet is “white people.”
Justice Smith and David Alan Grier in The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024), Focus Features
The nearly three minute trailer sees the character of Aren, played by Justice Smith, “feeling the discomfort” of white people. A character played by David Alan Grier then states, “Watching you walk through a room full of white people is the most painful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The trailer then sees Grier’s character take Aren to a job interview for The American Society of Magical Negroes.
From there, while standing in front of a poster of a Great White Shark, Grier’s character asks, “What’s the most dangerous animal on the planet?” When Aren responds, “Shark.” Grier’s character retorts, “White people when they feel uncomfortable.”
He continues, “White people feeling uncomfortable precedes a lot of bad stuff for us. That’s why we fight white discomfort every day because the happier they are, the safer we are.”
Aren eventually gets the job as Grier details that his first client is “a Jason Mutt. His morale is far too low.”
A scene from The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024), Focus Features
From the trailer then appears to indicate the movie is some kind of romantic comedy as Aren falls for a woman named Lizzie with Mutt believing Aren is trying to set them up.
However, according to the rules of The American Society of Magical Negroes, Aren is forbidden from having a relationship with Lizzie “because if you don’t put Jason first everyone’s magic will fail.” Not only that, but Grier’s character tells Aren, “if you interfere with her or your client your could have your memory erased. You won’t even remember she existed.”
On top of this, Mutt appears to decide to make his own moves on Lizzie as well and wants Aren’s help.
An-Li Bogan as Lizzie and Justice Smith as Aren in The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024), Focus Features
The trailer also indicates one of the main lessons it will try to preach to viewers is that black people should not make white people comfortable with the implication that’s how black people were supposed to act in the first place.
Aren says, “I’ve always felt like it’s my job to make white people feel comfortable, and here it literally is. But maybe it shouldn’t be.”
Justice Smith as Aren in The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024), Focus Features
The official description on the film’s website states, “The American Society of Magical Negroes is a fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.”
The movie is expected to arrive in theaters on March 22, 2024.
A scene from The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024), Focus Features The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024), Focus Features
What do you make of the film’s trailer?
