Rustin release date, cast, synopsis, photos, and more

Rustin starring Colman Domingo will be coming to Netflix soon, and we’ve created a guide of everything we know so far about the upcoming drama film!

Rustin was helmed by Tony Award-winning director George C. Wolfe from a screenplay co-written by Milk‘s Dustin Lance Black and Julian Breece. You might know Wolfe from his work on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Black has worked on shows like MTV’s Faking It and Big Love and Breece wrote two episodes of the Netflix series When They See Us.

The drama movie was produced by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground Productions. It’s a part of the Obama’s multi-year deal with Netflix to produce scripted and unscripted film and television series.

Below, you’ll find everything else you need to know about Rustin!

Rustin release date

It’s been a long time coming, but we finally have a release date! After a limited theatrical release beginning on Nov. 3, 2023, Rustin is slated to land on Netflix on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. You can expect the drama movie to drop on the streamer at 12:00 a.m. PT/3:00 a.m. ET on this date.

Originally, the movie was expected to come out sometime in 2022, but Netflix decided to hold its release until the following year for unknown reasons.

Rustin cast

The cast lineup is pretty impressive. It’s made up of many well-known actors, so we’re expecting outstanding performances.

Here’s the complete cast list via Deadline below:

• Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin
• Chris Rock as Roy Wilkins
• Glynn Turman as A. Philip Randolph
• Audra McDonald as Ella Baker
• Aml Ameen as Martin Luther King Jr.
• Gus Halper as Tom
• Johnny Ramey as Elias
• CCH Pounder as Dr. Anna Hedgeman
• Michael Potts as Cleveland Robinson
• Carra Patterson as Coretta Scott King
• Adrienne Warren as Claudia Taylor
• Bill Irwin as A.J. Muste
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mahalia Jackson
• Jeffrey Wright as Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
• Lilli Kay as Rachelle
• Jordan-Amanda Hall as Charlene
• Jakeem Dante Powell as Norm
• Ayana Workman as Eleanor
• Jamilah Nadege Rosemond
• Jules Latimer
• Maxwell Whittington-Cooper
• Frank Harts
• Kevin Mambo
• Grantham Coleman

Rustin synopsis

Here’s the official synopsis via Netflix Media Center:

"The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten. Directed by DGA Award and five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe and starring Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo, Rustin shines a long overdue spotlight on the extraordinary man who, alongside giants like the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Ella Baker, dared to imagine a different world, and inspired a movement in a march toward freedom."

Rustin photos

Check out these official production stills from the upcoming movie.

Is there a Rustin trailer?

Yes! On Aug. 28, Netflix dropped a teaser trailer. Check it out below.

Stay tuned to Netflix Life for more information on Rustin.