please welcome aldis hodge. hi, aldis, how are you? >> what's happening, man?tell you that. the movie itself was fantastic as well. >> i appreciate that, man. regina did a wonder of a job, man, she's incredible. >> jimmy: i have to say, it's interesting to see you, to talk to you right now, because you had just a totally different air as jim brown. when you're playing this. >> yeah, man. >> jimmy: badass man that he was. >> yeah, man. i mean, like he's still cool, you know, he's still got that vibe. it was awesome digging into the research to figure out who he was in this particular era back in the '60s. the '60s had a different vibe. and young jim, man, he was a total force, man. that brother was smart, intelligent. it was fantastic getting into his mindset. >> jimmy: and he was one of the first athletes to make the jump to doing movies, really. i mean, maybe the first. i'm not sure. >> yeah, he set the tone. >> jimmy: how do you prepare? i do want to mention, the movie, well, most people haven't seen it yet. but the movie is about a night, a real night, after

a low—key death row drama, clemency boasted note—perfect performance from alfre woodard and aldis hodge here injuly, it addressed the terrible impact of the death penalty upon all those it touches, from prisoners to wardens to society at large, an issue that seems particularly relevant at the moment. i don't see how it's going to work — living with an empty shell of a wife. i will never get over seeing missjuneteenth cleaning toilets. on a more upbeat note, missjuneteenth could be in the running for next year's oscars. the date was june 19th. opening to rave reviews in uk cinemas and on vod in september, this quietly political charmer features nicole beharie as turquoisejones, a one—time beauty queen who desperately wants her headstrong daughter to win the titular pageant celebrating the belated freeing of slaves in texas on june 19, 1865, a full 2.5 years after the emancipation proclamation. what's her problem? i beat her. 2020 also saw the release of two netflix—backed films featuring chadwick boseman, who we sadly lost in august. you can currently see him in his final screen role, a

hall of fame running back, played by aldis hodge.cer extraordinaire, played by leslie odom jr of "hamilton" fame. and, malcolm x, the charismatic black nationalist leader and minister of the nation of islam, played by kingsley ben-adir. one photo exists of malcolm and ali that night. it was used for a scene in the film. what actually happened that night, though, was imagined by writer kemp powers, first in his 2013 play, "one night in miami," now as the film's screenwriter. >> they were significant then. they're significant now. and, one can't help but wonder what a group like that might discuss if gathered together in a room. i mean, who wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall? >> brown: all were at personal or professional crossroads, having reached unimagined heights, but facing doubts about the way forward. >> when the play was first produced, i was actually older, at 40, than all the men in that room. and that really struck me, because we think of these men doing amazing, transformative things with the benefit of age and wisdom. b

aldis hodge as jim brown, eli goree playing the greatest, cassius clay soon to become muhammad ali and've seen a project where i wasn't thinking about the work. i was so engrossed in everything. >> reporter: the story by playwright ken powers imagined how that historic meeting of the minds at miami's hampton house would have played out with the themes and issues of the black struggle and how to overcome still as relevant today as they were over half a century ago. being a fly on the wall for kitchen table talk. >> what are you doing. are you doing enough? you know, that's the question we all ask ourselves. >> the fact that it was set in the time that it was and it's still -- we could have these conversations like right now, you know, tells us how little has changed but also the fact we get to do a film like this tells us how far we have come. >> america is a different experience for many people and attention has to be paid to the truth in them. >> let me hear you. ♪ you got it you got it >> reporter: oscar winner regina king not just bringing the story to life but making the story sing

plays sam cooke and aldis hodge plays jim brown. >> and why were they the right men for this role?t understood that but also weren't scared to walk in the shoes of greats, of the greatest, you know. and they did and their performances are just breathtaking. i know that i'm the director and i'm supposed to say that but i'm saying it as an audience member, as a fan, they just truly gave it everything they had and just left it on the floor and i just got to be a fifth wheel to witness that up close and personal. >> they had equally eye praise about you, you should know that. equally high praise. >> we know this movie is as timely as ever, regina so what do you hope -- what do you want the viewer to walk away with? >> you know, it's interesting. there are a few hopes, you know, just as far as just for us, i hope that our men can see this and see themselves in this film and see themselves debating healt healthily, loving on each other and celebrating each other. also as far as just everyone, it would be nice that it would -- people can walk away and it be like a call to action, these me