Jordan Peele Taps Houston Greats for Black Cowboy Documentary Set To Premiere This Fall

‘High Horse: The Black Cowboy’ Documentary

By: Joshua Martin

Academy Award winning director Jordan Peele, known for his hit films Get Out and Nope, has a new documentary coming to Peacock later this month. Highlighting the history of Black cowboys while also challenging the whitewashed mythology surrounding cowboy culture. “High Horse: The Black Cowboy” is a three part doc that confronts and reclaims the "Wild West" while exploring the largely untold history of the Black cowboy.  

“I’m grateful to Monkeypaw for amplifying the powerful voices and long-standing culture of Black cowboys and cowgirls through High Horse: The Black Cowboy, on Peacock. Their history is inseparable from the story of our country and this project aims to honor and celebrate their lasting legacy.”

— Jordan Peele 

High Horse: The Black Cowboy | Official Trailer | Peacock Original

The documentary will feature original interviews from Peele, rapper Blanco Brown, queen of blaxploitation movies Pam Grier, model Lori Harvey, rapper Rick Ross, the Los Angeles-based youth outreach group The Compton Cowboys and Houston's own Bun B and Tina Knowles. Jason Perez served as director for the documentary, while R&B and soul legend Raphael Saadiq composed the score.

Bun B, a Houston icon and a major figure in southern hip-hop, has been headlining the Houston Rodeo's Black Heritage Night as of late. Which has become a large celebration of Black cowboy culture. 

Tina Knowles has long been an outspoken defender of her daughter Beyonce's trek into country music, highlighting the history of Black cowboys and Black contributions to country music, and her own upbringing in Galveston, Texas, and her Louisiana Creole heritage. 

“We have always celebrated cowboy culture growing up in Texas. When people ask why is Beyonce wearing cowboy hats? It’s really funny, I actually laugh because it’s been there since she was a kid, we went to rodeos every year and my whole family dressed in western fashion.”

— Tina Knowles via IG in response to Cowboy Carter critics  

“High Horse: The Black Cowboy” will premiere exclusively on Peacock, Thursday, November 20th.

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Marlon Wayans to Star in Jordan Peele's Latest Horror Film 'GOAT'

By: Joshua Martin

Longtime comedic actor Marlon Wayans is set to star in an upcoming horror film produced by Jordan Peele, titled GOAT. This addition of a psychological thriller marks another impressive entry in Wayans' already outstanding film career. The movie, slated for release through Universal Pictures and Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, has chosen Wayans for the lead role based on studio executives' recommendations.

While Wayans is not typically associated with straightforward horror films, the 51-year-old actor is no stranger to the genre. He, along with his family, played a key role in creating the Scary Movie horror parody franchise and, with a modern twist, A Haunted House. Additionally, he delivered a memorable dramatic performance in the 2000 American psychological drama film 'Requiem for a Dream,' portraying drug addict Tyrone C. Love. Recently, he showcased his versatility with the portrayal of Lou, Will Smith’s father, in the Peacock series, Bel-Air.

Justin Tipping, known for his work on the television series Dear White People and The Chi, is set to direct the film. Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, and Jamal Watson will assist Peele as producers.

According to sources, GOAT explores the dynamics when a promising youth athlete is invited to train with a team’s retiring star, played by Wayans. The movie is based on a spec script from Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie.

Marlon had a busy 2023 with the release of Air, another sports-inspired film, and his stand-up comedy special God Loves Me for MAX. In an interview, the father of two shared his thoughts on the challenges comedians face in creating new material and stand-up comedy routines. 

“Our job is an unapologetic thing. There are no apologies in comedy. That’s why comedy is such an interesting art. And it’s probably one of the hardest things to do. You have to work yourself so well that you instantly have a filter. Before it leaves your mouth, you know that’s not the right thing to say. You know because you’ve been on stages everywhere, you played to so many different audiences. And like a scientist, you tried all these different formulas. It takes years to figure out what is appropriate to say in the moment because sometimes the most inappropriate thing is the appropriate thing to say.”

— Marlon Wayans

GOAT will be the latest addition to Monkeypaw's successful production ventures, following hits such as Wendell & Wild and the box-office smash Nope, starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. An official release date for their latest project has not been announced yet. Stay tuned for more updates here at 247LiveCulture.com.

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