Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique and director Lee Daniels have reunited for the film The Deliverance, which will hit select theaters on Aug. 16 and will be available worldwide on Netflix two weeks later on Aug. 30.
Mo’Nique and Daniels were joined by Academy Award nominees Andra Day, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and 17-year-old actress Demi Singleton for a special screening of The Deliverance on Friday, Aug. 2 in New York City. “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin discussed the film with Daniels after the screening, but prior to the screening, Mo’Nique shared thoughts about Daniels.
“A lot of people don’t know this story, Lee, so I’m going to share it,” Mo’Nique said. “When I was doing ‘The Parkers,’ people had pretty much typecast me in that role and you saw me at a club and you said, ‘I have something for you.’ Well, I had heard that quite a bit and you said, ‘I’m going to give you a call.’ And you gave me a call and I did a movie called Shadowboxer. And you took that chance and that was over 25 years ago.” The film was released in 2005 and Mo’Nique played a character named Precious. Mo’Nique won an Oscar in 2009 for the film Precious, which was also directed by Daniels.
“So to stand here with you tonight, as they’re introducing your movie, your magic, your genius, your brilliance,” Mo’Nique said. Then, the comedian in her came out.
“Your crazy. because it’s a lot of crazy,” she said, to laughter from the audience, which included radio personalities Angela Yee and Bevy Smith, 2024 Tony Award winner Kara Young, and stylist and author Ty Hunter.
“You all know that when you know Lee Daniels do [stuff] it’s going to be some crazy in it, we know that,” she said.
“But to be able to play with you [Andra Day] and these amazing sisters to be able to walk on set and nobody was acting, when you watch this, you won’t see anyone acting,” she said. “What you will see is almost a documentary of people living it and it was such an honor to sit with you and play with you.”
Mo’Nique then addressed the youngest cast member in attendance.
“And Demi to watch you shine and the other babies [actors Anthony B. Jenkins and Caleb McLaughlin] that are not here tonight, it was just such an honor,” she expressed. “You all, so please, when you watch this, watch it and call it what you want to call it because people have said, what is this film?”
The film will premiere Aug. 30 on Netflix.
