Donald Glover's upcoming film, Guava Island, will premiere at Coachella Thursday ahead of a global release on Amazon Prime Saturday. Not much is known of the film, which has deliberately been kept under wraps, except for a few key points that outline the plot and actors. With the public premiere only days away, here's what you need to know about the film, how to stream it and what the project could mean for Glover's future in entertainment.
How Can You Watch It?
If you're at Coachella this weekend, you're in luck. The film will first premiere Thursday at the Music and Arts Festival on the grounds of the annual multi-day bash in Indio, California. If you're not able to attend, though, Guava Island will be streamed again Saturday directly after Glover's performance at the festival, he announced on Twitter Thursday.
Those not attending Coachella this year can still watch the hour-long film on Saturday. It will begin streaming on Amazon Prime at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, according to the Prime Video website. Even better news: for the first 18 hours of streaming, the film will be free to all viewers, not just for Prime subscribers. After, it will will likely be for rent or purchase.
You can also live stream the film on Saturday via the Amazon Prime channel on Twitch channel at 8 p.m. ET, or on Coachella's official YouTube channel at the same time.
What Is The Plot?
The film follows Glover, a musician in an island community, who wants to bring a music festival to his town. While that description might not sound like it, according to Vanity Fair, the movie is a thriller.
Who Are The Actors?
Rihanna is one of the main characters in the film, as was leaked during the film's production. Aside from Rihanna and Glover, Letitia Wright (Black Panther, Avengers: Endgame) will also be featured.
The film was directed by Hiro Murai, who has previously helmed a handful of Glover's music videos, including "This Is America". Murai has also been the primary director on Glover's award-winning FX series Atlanta, sitting behind the camera for the majority of the show's episodes.
How Did The Project Stay Secret?
The project was kept under wraps by using a code name, "Dionysus," according to Vanity Fair. Producer Carmen Cuba shared why the project's privacy was so important to the production.
"We wanted to assure that we had as much creative freedom as possible," Cuba explained to Vanity Fair. "Everything about this project and Donald, in general in terms of his intentions for his life and his career, is to protect his freedom; freedom of expression and freedom of process."
What Else Has Glover Done In Entertainment?
Glover is widely known for his music career, under the name Childish Gambino, and for acting on TV and in films. The 35-year-old was a writer and occasional guest star on NBC hit 30 Rock before rising to prominence as one of the leads on that network's much-loved sitcom Community. Following that success, Glover and and his brother Stephen created, co-wrote, and co-produced the Emmy-and Golden Globe-winning Atlanta.
On the big screen, Glover had a memorable role in The Martian, and went on to make nearly $400 million at the box office, stepping into the role of a younger Lando Calrissian in 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story. He will soon star as Simba in the upcoming remake of Disney's The Lion King.
The actor and musician also made news with the release of his music video "This Is America", which vocally challenged American politics, racial tension and suppression. In 2019, the song won Song of the Year at the Grammys. It also won Best Video at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.
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