Adapting Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give to the big screen seems fairly straight-forward, but this is Hollywood and you never know with these things. I am happy to say, however, that based on the trailer, director George Tillman Jr. completely nails it.

This trailer looks like the movie in my head while I was reading the book. The cast is perfect, so much so that after only watching it once, the movie’s cast has already supplanted the cast I had in my mind, although I swear to God, I pictured Russell Hornsby as Maverick Carter the entire time. My only concern is Chris (K.J. Apa) — the white boyfriend — who doesn’t seem to be in the trailer much, which may mean his role has been limited, and if Tillman Jr. had to cut one subplot for time, that’s the one I’d cut.

Anyway, check it out. It looks great.

The Hate U Give arrives in theaters in October. Don’t count Amandla Stenberg out of the Oscar race, either.

Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba.

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