The Lee Daniels produced film, Concrete Cowboy, is set to debut this spring on Netflix. Inspired by the novel, Ghetto Cowboy, the film will follow the story of one young, Black man who takes up horseback riding in the Philadelphia area.
"When fifteen-year-old Cole is expelled from school in Detroit, he is sent to North Philadelphia to live with Harp, his estranged father. Harp finds solace in rehabilitating horses for inner-city cowboys at the Fletcher Street Stables, a real-life black urban horsemanship community that has provided a safe haven for the neighborhood residents for more than 100 years," the description from Netflix reads.
"Torn between his growing respect for his father's community and his reemerging friendship with troubled cousin Smush, Cole begins to reprioritize his life as the stables themselves are threatened by encroaching gentrification."
The film is directed by young filmmaker Ricky Staub. Staub has previously worked on short films like Jaded, The Cage and The Reclamation of David Simms. He has also assisted on larger films like Snow White and the Huntsman, Devil and The Last Airbender. Staub leads the way for an incredibly talented cast that includes Idris Elba, Jharrel Jerome, CalebMcLaughlin and Clifford "Method Man" Smith. Behind the scenes, Elba will produce the film alongside Lee Daniels, Tucker Tooley, Jeff Waxman, Dan Walser and Jade Madeloff.
Early reviews for the film have been generally positive. Film critic Dwight Brown called the film "endearing" and "powerful."
"This very endearing father/son drama is as emotionally powerful as The Great Santini and as respectful to Black cowboy culture as Miss Juneteenth," Brown wrote.
Concrete Cowboy will hit Netflix on April 2.
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