2022 NAACP Image Awards: 5 Reasons Why These Films Earned Their Nomination for ‘Outstanding Ensemble Cast’
Nothing beats a film with an all-star cast of talented Black entertainers as seen in hits like The Harder They Fall and the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect. The movies nominated at the 2022 NAACP Image Awards for “Outstanding Ensemble Cast” won over audience members not only for their storylines and eye-catching cinematography but their star-studded crew of veteran and breakout thespians.
As we gear up for what is sure to be another fantastic night honoring outstanding performances in film, television, theater, music, and literature, check out the films in the running for the award for ‘Outstanding Ensemble Cast.’
Coming 2 America
30 years following the release of the 1988 cult classic Coming to America, \Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley, and James Earl Jones return after Prince turned King Akeen of Zamunda discovers he has a son in Queens, NY. The new installment brings a slew of new faces, including Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Teyana Taylor, and Wesley Snipes.
Judas and the Black Messiah
Lakeith Stainfield is FBI informant Williams O’Neal who commits the ultimate betrayal subsequently leading to the death of Fred Hampton, played by Academy Award-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya, the role which also earned him the trophy for “Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” at the 2021 Golden Globes Awards.
Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Lil Rel Howery, Algee Smith, Dominique Thorne, and Martin Sheen also star in the Shaka King directed movie co-written along with Will Berson.
King Richard
Will Smith gives one of his best performances to date in this Reinaldo Marcus Green directed sports drama about Richard Williams’ determination to write Venus and Serena into history, both portrayed by American Horror Story alum Saniyya Sidney and breakout star Demi Singleton.
- advertisement
Respect
Jennifer Hudson gives a powerful performance in the musical drama based on the rise and subsequent musical reign of legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin. This Liesl Tommy-directed movie also stars Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, and Mary J. Blige in supporting roles earning the project several nominations, including a Grammy nom for “Best Song Written for Visual Media.”
The Harder They Fall
The cast of this Jeymes Samuel directed Black Western appears to initially grab viewers’ attention when news of the film was originally announced. Jonathan Majors stars as the outlaw out for revenge, Nat Love, alongside several of Hollywood’s most talented actors, including Idris Elba, Regina King, Lakeith Stainfield, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, RJ Cyler, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, and Deon Cole.
Watch the NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 8/9c.
