Tessa Thompson, LaKeith Stanfield, and Steven Yeun are set to star in “Sorry to Bother You,” a drama from debuting director Boots Riley and Significants Productions, the studio behind Ryan Coogler’s debut feature film, “Fruitvale Station,”, a person close to the project told TheWrap.
The film follows a black telemarketer with self-esteem issues who finds a secret to success that sends him soaring up the ranks in his company. But as he rises, he discovers a dark secret behind his company’s M.O., forcing him to choose between holding on to his newfound gains or siding with his activist friends and speak truth to power.
Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi of Significant Productions are producing the film with Jonathan Duffy, Kelly Williams, George Rush, and “Fences” producer Charles D. King.
Prior to this film, director Boots Riley became known in the hip-hop world as the head of the politically-charged group The Coup, whose songs most famously appeared in the movie “Superbad.” Riley previously worked behind the camera as director for the group’s music videos.
Thompson is repped by Greene & Associates, Mosaic and Jackoway, Tyerman, Wertheimer, Austen, Mandelbaum, Morris, & Klein. Stanfield is repped by CAA, Stark Management and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis.
Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) is repped by Principal Entertainment LA, The Gotham Group and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller.