Blackbird (2014 film)
Blackbird is a 2014 drama film directed by Patrik-Ian Polk and starring Mo'Nique and Isaiah Washington. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Larry Duplechan and was released theatrically on April 24, 2015. Premise Set in a small baptist community in the south of Mississippi, a 17-year-old high school senior and talented singer juggles with his sexuality and religion while also dealing with the disappearance of his younger sister as it tore his family apart. Cast Julian Walker as Randy Rousseau Mo'Nique as Claire Rousseau Isaiah Washington as Lance Rousseau Kevin Allesee as Marshall MacNeil Terrell Tilford as Pastor Crandall D. Woods as Leslie Crandall Gary LeRoi Gray as Efrem Torrey Laamar as Todd Waterson Nikki Jane as Crystal Background Polk initially tried to get the film made several years earlier, with Jussie Smollett cast as the young lead, however financing fell through. When the funding came through years later, he was forced to re-cast because of Smollett's busy schedule on Empire, and struggled to find a black male actor who would portray a gay love story on screen. However, he later met Julian Walker, who is openly gay, and chose to cast him despite