Black Cake: All You Need to Know About Release Date, Trailer, and Cast
Adapted from the best-selling novel by Charmaine Wilkerson, 'Black Cake' is an upcoming film starring Adrienne Warren and Ashley Thomas Discover the release date, trailer, cast, and everything we know about this highly anticipated movie
When Is 'Black Cake' Coming Out?
The upcoming television adaptation of the best-selling novel, Black Cake, is set to be a captivating family drama filled with long-held secrets. Produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and executive produced by Marissa Jo Cerar (known for her work on The Handmaid’s Tale), Black Cake follows the journey of estranged siblings, Byron (played by Ashley Thomas) and Benny Bennett (played by Adrienne Warren), as they delve into the hidden truths left behind by their late mother, Eleanor. This gripping generational tale promises to take viewers on an extraordinary ride. To get a taste of what's in store, Barnes & Noble Premium offers an exclusive early screening of Black Cake. Let's explore everything we know so far about this intriguing series.
Image via Hulu
Black Cake will be premiering exclusively on Hulu on November 1, 2023. In case you haven't become a member of this streaming platform yet, you have the opportunity to sign up for Hulu with subscription plans starting at just $7.99 per month for the ad-supported option.
Watch on Hulu
Is There a Trailer for 'Black Cake'?
On October 2, 2023, Hulu released the trailer for Black Cake, offering a glimpse into the tense family drama that awaits audiences. The opening scene features Eleanor's estranged children, Benny Bennett (played by Adrienne Warren) and Byron Bennett (played by Ashley Thomas), who meet in an office for the reading of their late mother's will. Despite being siblings, it is clear that their relationship is strained, and they do not see eye-to-eye. As they listen to the will, they are taken by surprise when they discover that Eleanor has left them with just one flash drive, which holds their mother's biggest secret: "Eleanor is not my real name."
Throughout the remainder of the clip, viewers are exposed to Eleanor's undisclosed past, which takes place over numerous decades and in various countries. A sequence of flashbacks reveals that her actual name is Covey, and at the mere age of 16, she was coerced into an arranged marriage to settle her father's debts. Fearing a loveless union, Covey resorts to extreme measures and murders her husband. Aware of the danger she faces, Covey flees her hometown, initiating a turbulent quest for freedom. The following is the official Hulu synopsis for Black Cake:
"After succumbing to cancer, Eleanor Bennett leaves her children a flash drive containing untold tales of her voyage from the Caribbean to America. These stories not only stun her children but also question everything they thought they knew about their family's heritage."
Who's In the 'Black Cake' Cast?
Image via Hulu
Warren, a Broadway star, joins Black Cake as Benny Bennet, the daughter of Eleanor. Benny, who is an artist and empath, distanced herself from her family under mysterious circumstances. However, with Eleanor's passing, Benny is now forced to confront the ghosts of her past and face the music. Playing Benny's brother, Byron Bennett, is Thomas. Byron, a gifted ocean scientist, doesn't have the best relationship with his sister. But everything is about to change when Byron is tasked with fulfilling his mother's last wish. Rising star Mia Isaac takes center stage in Black Cake as Covey, a biracial 16-year-old who grew up in Jamaica in the late 1960s. Covey, an incredibly talented swimmer, finds herself at a crossroads between her family and her personal dreams. Little does she know that the decision she makes will shape her future family for years to come.
The remaining cast includes Chipo Chung as Eleanor, Faith Alabi as Pearl Thomas, a caretaker at the Lyncook household, Ahmed Elhaj as Gibbs Grant, who falls in love with Covey, and Lashay Anderson as Bunny Pringle, Covey's childhood best friend in Jamaica and a fellow swimmer. Black Cake also features appearances by Rupert Evans, Cara Horgan, Rebecca Calder, and Anthony J. Abraham.
What Is 'Black Cake' About?
Image via Hulu
Based on Wilkerson's bestselling novel, Black Cake takes viewers back to the Caribbean in the late 1960s, where Eleanor (also known as Covey) commits a heinous act to escape her arranged marriage. For decades, Covey lives on the run, keeping her true story hidden from her children. However, after her death, her children finally learn the truth behind their mother's journey to America. This series is a thrilling murder mystery that also delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the importance of understanding one's heritage. Highly acclaimed by publications like The Washington Post and BBC News, Black Cake has gained recognition as one of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2022 and has been named one of Oprah Daily's Best Books of 2022. Take a look at the official synopsis for Black Cake below:
After years of estrangement, Byron and Benny find themselves face-to-face, confronted with their mother's mysterious past. When Eleanor passes away in California, she leaves behind a perplexing inheritance: a traditional Caribbean black cake and a voice recording that holds the key to transforming Byron and Benny's lives.
As they unravel their mother's story, the siblings embark on a quest to mend their fractured family bonds and confront their personal struggles with identity. Yet, in their pursuit for answers, they must navigate the perilous path of feeling even more adrift than before. From the shores of the Caribbean to the United Kingdom and back to California, their expedition of self-discovery unveils the profound impact of inherited betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names on relationships and history.
Who Is Making 'Black Cake'?
Image via Hulu
Marissa Jo Cerar has taken the lead as the showrunner and executive producer for Black Cake, alongside Harpo Films and Kapital Entertainment, which are both owned by Winfrey. Cerar has previously worked with Hulu as the supervising producer for the critically acclaimed series The Handmaid's Tale, based on Margaret Atwood's novel. The directors for Black Cake are Zetna Fuentes, who was nominated for Best Director - Television at the 2022 Imgen Awards for This Is Us, and Andrew Dosunmu. Black Cake is an adaptation of Wilkerson's debut novel of the same name. Wilkerson, originally from New York, is a graduate of Barnard College and Stanford University. She started her career as a news and communication professional in the US and has received awards for her short fiction, which has been featured in various anthologies and magazines.
