André Holland makes a notable return to the Sundance Film Festival with his poignant, humorous, and culturally significant film, Love, Brooklyn. Renowned for his performances in acclaimed projects such as Moonlight, The Knick, and Castle Rock, Holland not only stars in this romantic dramedy but also co-produces it. His aim is to highlight the Black perspective within a genre he cherished growing up. For this venture, he successfully sought the financial backing of his frequent collaborator, Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh.
Alongside Soderbergh, Holland enlisted talented friends for the cast of Love, Brooklyn. He features Nicole Beharie from Miss Juneteenth as Casey, an art gallery curator and one of his two love interests. DeWanda Wise of Imaginary plays Nicole, a woman he’s dating who has a young daughter. The film also stars Roy Wood Jr.from Confess, Fletch and Cassandra Freeman from Bel-Air, each bringing unique connections to the central trio. Directed by Rachael Abigail Holder in her feature debut, the film has received positive reviews, boasting a 79% score on Rotten Tomatoes following its Sundance premiere.
In celebration of Love, Brooklyn‘s premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, ScreenRant interviewed Holland, Beharie, Wise, Wood Jr., Freeman, and Holder. They discussed what initially drew them to Paul Zimmerman’s screenplay and reflected on their experiences with Holland as both a star and producer. Holder expressed her excitement regarding Holland’s involvement and his talent for assembling such a gifted cast.
Holland Immediately “Saw Myself”In Love, Brooklyn’s Script
He’s Also Thoroughly Grateful For His Friendships That Helped Get The Movie Off The Ground
Holland, an acclaimed actor for nearly two decades, has begun expanding his role in the industry to include producing. He notably served as executive producer on both Soderbergh’s High Flying Bird and Damien Chazelle’s The Eddy. Reflecting on why he chose to both star in and produce Love, Brooklyn, he cites a strong connection to the content and recognizes a lack of representation for the Black community in similar “small love stories.”
André Holland: “Thank you for saying that. I’m so excited to be here. As soon as I read the script, I saw myself in it and in my community. Growing up, these kinds of small love stories were prevalent, but I often didn’t see characters that looked like me. I thought, ‘What if we reimagined the script with our community, allowing the actors to bring their own creativity to the roles?’ A significant portion of the filming involved both sticking to the script and improvising, resulting in a rich display of our personalities.”
Despite the exceptional cast led by Holland and his dual role as a producer, the project did encounter financial challenges. Holland acknowledges Soderbergh as the principal financier while commending his ongoing support, both financially and creatively, throughout the filming process.
André Holland: “Absolutely. He was fundamentally the lead financier of the movie. Without Soderbergh, this film wouldn’t exist. Our collaboration began on The Knick and has only strengthened since. When I presented him with this project, he immediately said, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ His support has been invaluable, aiding both the film’s funding and its creative direction.”
When casting Love, Brooklyn, Holland took pride in involving many of his friends. He highlighted his friendships with Wise and Freeman, both of whom attended NYU with him, and his connection with Beharie from their Juilliard days. This camaraderie contributed significantly to the film’s chemistry, along with the creative freedom Holder provided to the cast.
André Holland: “The great thing is that we’re true friends and have been for a long time. DeWanda and I have known each other since NYU. Nicole was at Juilliard when I was at NYU, so we frequently attended each other’s shows. Cassandra and I also share that background. Having this history undoubtedly enhances the chemistry seen on screen. Once we realized we could all collaborate, improvise, and challenge each other, I was excited to showcase the spectrum of our talents.”
Wise Is “The Most Honest Person I’ve Ever Played”In Love, Brooklyn
She Also Couldn’t Be More Thrilled To Return To A More Grounded Story
DeWanda Wise’s career took off with her lead role in Spike Lee’s adaptation of She Gotta Have It, followed by parts in major projects like Jurassic World Dominion and the Blumhouse horror film Imaginary. With Love, Brooklyn, she was excited to return to her indie roots, expressing her gratitude for previous roles in blockbuster films.
DeWanda Wise: “I appreciate your question; indie films were my original career vision. Being in major productions like Twilight Zone and Jurassic World can feel disorienting, even though I’m grateful for those experiences. However, it’s incredibly special to tell this intimate story now.”
This project also reunites Wise and Holland, who both attended NYU together. Reflecting on her observations of Holland’s dual role during production, she humorously pointed out his visible stress, attributing it to his deep investment in the film’s success.
DeWanda Wise: “André was so stressed during filming; it was comical to witness. I found it amusing because it highlighted how much he genuinely cared about this project.”
While details about the film’s plot remain under wraps—true to the slice-of-life genre—Wise’s character is one of the two love interests vying for Holland’s attention. She describes her role as the most sincere and direct character she has portrayed thus far.
DeWanda Wise: “I can share that my character is likely the most honest I’ve ever played. She is refreshingly direct, and I adore her deeply.”
Holder Encouraged Beharie To Be “More Quirky”To Capture Her “Nuanced Character”
“…that was a gift.”
Though Nicole Beharie gained prominence as the co-lead on Fox’s Sleepy Hollow, she has collaborated with several up-and-coming Black directors, including Channing Godfrey Peoples on Miss Juneteenth and Reinaldo Marcus Green for Monsters and Men. When approached by Holder, Beharie was impressed by her commitment to making Love, Brooklyn while seven months pregnant, praising her encouragement throughout the character development process.
Nicole Beharie: “It was truly wonderful working with her. She was seven months pregnant yet still remarkably dedicated to this project. She encouraged me to explore a quirky, neurotic, nuanced character, which felt liberating.”
Wood Jr. Feels Blessed To Play A Character “That’s A Little Bit More Grounded”
He Also Offers A Exciting Tease of Keanu Reeves & Jonah Hill’s Outcome
Comedian Roy Wood Jr.transitioned to acting after gaining fame on The Daily Show. His recent works include Confess, Fletch and the A24 dark comedy The Death of Dick Long. Wood Jr.expresses gratitude for his role in Love, Brooklyn, highlighting not only the commendable people he collaborated with, but the chance to portray a grounded character.
Roy Wood Jr.: “It’s been a blessing to join this film. André and I share a hometown connection, so having him invite me to play a role that allows me to be comedic yet authentic was a rare opportunity. The film’s tone necessitates a grounded performance, creating a contrast with my previous roles.”
As he builds his acting portfolio, Wood Jr.maintains that comedy remains a priority in his role selection, expressing joy in providing laughter while also seeking characters that convey deeper truths about contemporary society.
Roy Wood Jr.: “Even in choosing roles, I still seek comedic opportunities. Giving the gift of laughter is vital to me. I grew up appreciating comedic classics; thus, I find beauty in making people laugh. At the same time, I’m eager for roles that portray genuine narratives reflecting our current environment.”
Looking ahead, Wood Jr.is also featured in Outcome, a dark comedy directed by Jonah Hill, marking his return to the director’s chair after Mid90s. Although unsure of the release timeline for this project, he has high expectations for its humor and hints at the unique nature of his character.
Roy Wood Jr.: “I recently spoke with Jonah, and while I can’t disclose too much, I can assure you that it’s an extremely funny film. Keanu Reeves returns to comedy, and my character is quite unexpected—think of him as a civil rights attorney with a Deion Sanders flair. It’s a different avenue compared to my work in Love, Brooklyn.
Freeman Had A Delight Watching Holland Work As Both A Producer & Star
She Also Looks Forward To Ending Bel-Air On Their Own Terms
Cassandra Freeman, like Wise and Beharie, shares a longstanding friendship with Holland, which greatly motivated her involvement in Love, Brooklyn. She found it rewarding to watch Holland take the lead on set, showcasing his calm and nurturing demeanor throughout production while portraying a character outside her typical roles.
Cassandra Freeman: “André and I have known each other since college, sharing many experiences. On set, he remains calm and collected, regardless of how chaotic things become. His supportive and nurturing nature is something I admire, especially as he balances being both star and producer. I was thrilled to explore this fun character; I bring comedic relief to the story, which is a departure from my usual heavier roles.”
As the conversation shifted towards the future, Freeman expressed her eagerness for Bel-Air season 4, which aims to conclude the Peacock series with purpose under its creative team. While production is yet to begin, Freeman is enthusiastic about the journey ahead.
Cassandra Freeman: “It’s bittersweet to approach the end, but I’m excited that we get to conclude the show with intention, offering fans a proper closure with the storylines we’ve been developing.”
Holder Saw The Opportunity To “Infuse Any Culture”Into The Movie’s Original Script
She’s Also Amazed More People Don’t Recognize Beharie & Wise’s Comedic Skills
Rachael Abigail Holder has been steadily rising as a director for nearly a decade, primarily in television. For her feature directorial debut with Love, Brooklyn, she felt an immediate connection to the story and saw it as an opportunity to feature Black narratives in a traditionally underrepresented context.
Rachael Abigail Holder: “I saw myself in this script, for it was a chance to bring Black individuals to the forefront of a story we typically wouldn’t inhabit. I found this tremendously exciting, as it felt human, devoid of stereotypes, and fully immersed in cultural authenticity.”
Holder praised Holland for successfully balancing his dual roles as producer and lead actor, allowing her to receive both artistic support and logistical assistance during the film’s production stages.
Rachael Abigail Holder: “Having André as a producer was invaluable. Often, producers can hinder the artistic vision, but he seamlessly navigated both roles, providing me support through both the creative and logistical challenges of filmmaking.
Furthermore, Holder expressed surprise at the fact that Beharie and Wise don’t receive more recognition for their comedic talents, emphasizing their exceptional ability to delve into the complexities of the human experience through humor.
Rachael Abigail Holder: “It’s amusing; both Nicole and DeWanda possess incredible comedic prowess. Comedy is significantly harder than drama, yet they excel in capturing the ridiculousness of human existence. Working with them was a true delight.”
For additional Sundance 2025 interview coverage, explore:
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- Kiss of the Spider-Woman Director & Cast
- Plainclothes Producer & Cast
- Dave Franco, Alison Brie & Together’s Michael Shanks
- Olivia Taylor Dudley & the Touch Me Cast & Director
Love, Brooklyn premiered at Sundance on January 27 and is currently in the process of securing distribution for a U. S.release.
Source: ScreenRant Plus
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