Mo’Nique To Star In “Blackbird” A Film Dealing With Homosexuality In The Church -

Mo’Nique had all but virtually disappeared since she set the acting world abuzz with her Oscar-winning portrayal as mother Mary in the film Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire. But according to a recent Deadline interview with Mo’Nique’s husband, Sidney Hicks, the comedienne turned actress is heading back to the big screen.

Mo’Nique is joining forces with veteran actor Isaiah Washington to star in an independent film called Blackbird. An adaption of a novel by Larry Duplechan, the film will be directed by Patrik-Ian Polk, who’s been behind projects like Logo’s television series “Noah’s Arc.”

The film, which is being executive produced by Mo’Nique and her husband, explore the life of a high school aged church choir member who is struggling with his sexual awakening and the realization that he’s gay. In addition to the pushback he’s getting from the religiously conservative folk in Mississippi, he’s also dealing with his parent’s flailing marriage and the disappearance of his younger sister. As if all of this weren’t enough, his mother, played by Mo’Nique, blames his lifestyle and sexual orientation for the reason his sister has gone missing. Looks like she’s playing yet another stellar mother. Isaiah Washington, on the other hand, plays a supportive father, attempting to help his son transition into manhood.

The picture just wrapped shooting in Hattisburg, Mississppi, Polk’s hometown.

In the interview with Deadline, Hicks explained what drew he and Mo’Nique to this project: “Blackbird is a film about the choices people are forced to make as they struggle to figure out how to be themselves. And why should just being who you are be a struggle? Since Mo’Nique won the Oscar, we have received a flood of scripts, but nothing captured our attention until Isaiah — who we have a high level of respect for — sent us Blackbird. We became instant fans of Patrik-Ian Polk and knew we had to get behind this important film.”

I’m hoping the best for this flick. With such a heavy subject matter and so many subplots it would be so easy for this to come out looking like a jumbled mess. But, if it’s executed properly and Mo’Nique and Isaiah are given the opportunity to shine as we know they can, this film would be quite necessary, especially if raises much needed discussions about homosexuality in the church.

What do you think about this upcoming film? Does it sound like something you’d check out?