Get ready to sing the blues, because the trailer for The United States vs. Billie Holiday is here. On January 11, Hulu unveiled the two-minute clip, featuring Andra Day in the lead role. The film will follow the life and career of Billie Holiday, showing how the “Strange Fruit” singer’s advocacy for the black community made her a target on the federal government’s hit list. The film, directed by Lee Daniels and written by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks, also stars Trevante Rhodes, Natasha Lyonne, Garrett Hedlund and Miss Lawrence. It is set to hit Hulu on February 26.
“Whether you are new to the history and legacy of Billie Holiday or know every note she has ever sung, I hope our celebration of this complex woman does justice to a great music legend and to a civil rights activist whose art also resonates today, as it was 80 years ago, ”Daniels said in a press release. “Hulu is releasing this film and giving it a platform to be seen across the country is a blessing, because as recent events reveal, our country has a lot of work to do to deliver on its promise of a more perfect union. ”
Watch the trailer for The United States vs. Billie Holiday coming up, then check out Day’s new song, “All of Me,” which will appear on the film’s soundtrack.
