Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Destin Daniel Cretton, And Just Mercy Author Bryan Stevenson Talk Narrative Influence On Social Change, WBs Film Adaptation

Lawyer, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson took the stage at CAA Amplify to talk about the Warner Bros. film based on his book. But before he was joined by the films stars Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx and director and writer Destin Daniel Cretton, he talked about what he hopes Just Mercy does and how it reflects his work with the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit that provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes, prisoners without effective representation, and those who may have been denied a fair trial.

Stevenson captivated the audience as he spoke on narrative influence on social change, unpacking our flawed justice system and how often people of color — particularly black and brown men — are wrongly imprisoned. We oftentimes talk about these issues surrounding incarceration and what many consider modern-day slavery, but we seldom address the issue with hard truths.

“We often misunderstand topics,” said Stevenson. “Underneath these topics are narratives — and narratives are what we need to change.”

Stevensons memoir Just Mercy and the forthcoming movie, which is set for a January 17, 2020 release date, follows Stevensons first case which involved Walter McMillian, a young black man sentenced to death for a crime he didnt commit. Despite his airtight alibi, McMillian was convicted and spent six years on death row before being exonerated. The film certainly aligns with Stevensons philosophy of using narrative to ignite social change. In it, Jordan portrays Stevenson and Foxx plays McMillian.

He points out its not often we see these stories put into light and if they were put into the spotlight more, change would happen. He points to the movie The Burning Bed starring Farrah Fawcett and how it shed light on the issue of domestic violence and how there were multiple films about marriage equality that was the driving force behind that particular LGBTQ movement. As he points out, people in Germany are constantly reminded of the Holocaust and arent afraid to face those demons and say “never again”. Stevenson explains how we have never created spaces to say “never again” and we keep replicating these dynamics of inequality in one way or another. He hopes that one day our country will be more open about our tragic past and narrative storytelling will put criminal injustice, lynching and slavery in the forefront so that things can change.

“Its about educating people and getting exposed…but its also about moving this country toward justice, dignity and human rights,” he said. “Its really about using all of our tools to push us.”

After Stevenson spoke, a sizzle reel and first look at Just Mercy played with Jordan and Foxx speaking about their experience making the film and its importance. “If you can relate, relate and if you cant, have some empathy,” said Jordan in the video.

Stevenson said that the team assembled for the adaptation of Just Mercy was very much appreciated because they werent just all talk about his story — it was also felt. “There was this vision motivating our side…the desire for justice shaped everything we were doing.”

Cretton was connected to Stevenson via Ryan Coogler who praised his work on the highly underrated indie Short Term 12. Through that connection and after talking to Cretton, Stevenson knew that he was the man for the project. As for who would play Stevenson in the film, Cretton said that after reading the book he immediately thought of Jordan.

He called Coogler and told him and through the miracle of three-way calling and Cooglers skills of connecting, they were on a call with Jordan — who was in Vegas at the time.

“I dont remember that detail,” Jordan laughed.

Eventually, Jordan and Foxx signed on to the project. For Cretton, he felt the pressure of making such an important and personal movie not just for Stevenson but for a topic that seldom gets put into the mainstream. He said that signing on to the project was “the most terrifying” thing he has done. But ultimately, he was confident in what he and the Just Mercy team was doing with the story.

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