Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton in Loving
Monday, October 26, 2015 at 6:00PM
Murtada here. The first picture from Jeff Nichols’ (Take Shelter, Mud) new movie Loving was released. Currently shooting, the film tells the story of Mildred and Richard Loving and the landmark 1967 civil rights supreme court decision that invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage.
Joel Edgerton plays Richard Loving in his second collaboration with Nichols after the still unreleased Midnight Special. Edgerton is riding on a bit of Oscar buzz right now for his supporting role alongside Johnny Depp in Black Mass. Mildred is played by Ethiopian-Irish actress Ruth Negga (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) in her first major film role. Did you know Negga played Dame Shirley Bassey for the BBC in 2011? After watching that clip I’m really excited to see her lead a movie. Negga had a varied theater and TV career in the U.K. and Ireland so fans of S.H.I.E.L.D or those more familiar with her other work, please tell us if this is the beginnings of a new actressey obsession!
One of the many photos of the Lovings shot by Grey Villet
Michael Shannon, who’s been in every single movie directed by Nichols, has a supporting part as Grey Villet, the LIFE Magazine photographer who shot the famous photos of the Lovings in 1965. The photo from the film is evocative of those Villet images. The resemblance to the actors is uncanny, no?
As for Midnight Special, which also stars Kirsten Dunst and Adam Driver, it was revealed recently by Dunst that it may premiere at SXSW next March. For a while Midnight Special had a premium November release date that prompted some to peg it as an Oscar movie. Of course once it was pushed back, many speculated that all is not well. Hopefuly a spring festival premiere in Nichols’ hometown will turn around the buzz.
Possibly two movies from Nichols in 2016. Are you excited to see either or both movies?
Reader Comments (13)
I really enjoyed the HBO documentary so suppose I'll see this, too.
Regarding Midnight Special, I can't *wait* for that one. (Open, open, open, open...)
So glad to see this story getting a feature film! Excited to see what he does with it.
So rare to see movies about landmarks in civil rights or black history getting past the TV movie ceiling, and unfortunately so unsurprising when the ones that do are stories at least 50% about white people.
I'll second the recommendation for the outstanding "The Loving Story" documentary on HBO from a couple years ago. It's very good and matter-of-fact. I'm surprised this project isn't an HBO television film to be honest. "Take Shelter" was incredible, so I'm looking forward to more from Jeff Nichols. Joel Edgerton is better known, but Richard Loving wasn't exactly a talker. Mildred Loving was the one you couldn't take your eyes off of. I've never heard of Ruth Negga before, so let's see what she does with this prime role.
Ruth Negga, in the two parts I've seen her play (on SHIELD and in the Jimi Hendrix bio), has this mysterious, naughty quality with a touch of insanity. I like her, but I've wanted to see her do something more straightforward and down-to-earth. Maybe Mildred Loving is such a role.
Ruth Negga should have a good 2016 between this and the preacher series. I really liked her on S.H.I.E.L.D. so I hope the best for her.
If this means Edgerton could be in the Oscar game for real next year, I'm all in!
Loved the documentary, loved all of Nichols's films, so I'll definitely see this. Excited for Midnight Special, too.
So weird seeing all these foreigners getting such clearly American roles. Crazy.
It's called acting, Len. That is to say playing someone who is not yourself. Why does it matter where the actors were born? Way to bring the xenophobia to this blog where readers are from all over the world.
Or is it a comment on the recurring recent notion that American actors are not learning their trade and honing their chops like their foreign counterparts?
Mr Edgerton looks very hot in that shot
Ruth Negga was also great in Breakfast on Pluto and had a small role in World War Z
#Cannes2016