The first trailer for ‘Bodied’ has dropped and it looks unreal. The film is produced by Eminem and directed by Joseph Khan, one of the biggest music video directors working today, having helmed videos for the likes of Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, U2, Katy Perry, 50 Cent, Elton John, Destiny’s Child, Backstreet Boys – and the list goes on.
The satirical black comedy is set in Oakland and has been described as a “go-for-the-jugular, hilarious look inside the competitive world of rap battles.”
The synopsis reads: “Berkeley grad student Adam Merkin (Calum Worthy – ‘American Vandal,’ ‘Austin & Ally’) gets sucked into the game after meeting icon Behn Grym (Jackie Lrong - BET’s ‘Real Husbands of Hollywood’) and accidentally competing in—and winning—his first battle.
“Rising through the ranks of the battle scene with his provocative insults, Adam alienates his academic buddies, uptight girlfriend, and literary professor father (Anthony Michael Hall).”
‘Bodied’ also stars Shoniqua Shandai (‘Sing It!,’ ‘The Fosters’), Walter Perez (‘The Avengers,’ ‘Fame’), and Rory Uphold (‘Hella’), and features well-known battle rappers Dizaster, Dumbfoundead, Hollow Da Don and media personality Charlamagne Tha God.
The ‘8 Mile’-esque film is written by Alex Larsen (aka Kid Twist), a former rap battler turned screenwriter, and has been having an impressive run on the festival circuit. It won awards at the AFI Fest, Austin Fantastic Fest (for Best Film), Palm Springs International Film Festival, and at the Toronto International Festival (People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award).
‘Bodied’ will be available on YouTube Premium on November 28 and gets a limited theatre release on November 2 (no confirmation of an Irish release yet).
You can watch the red and green band trailers for the film below:
