Donald Glover’s filmography continues to expand, adding yet another feather to his cap with his upcoming directorial venture, Bando Stone & the New World. The multi-talented star, also known as Childish Gambino, takes on the role of a hit musician on-screen in this new film that he is helming himself. Although the film appears to play into the theme of art imitating life, it quickly veers off into an extravagant adventure.
The Island Adventure
In the just-released trailer for Bando Stone & the New World, Glover stars as the titular character, Bando Stone. When encountering a woman (Jessica Allain, The Continental: From the World of John Wick) in a convenience store, Bando introduces himself by listing his popular hits: ‘Starlight’, ‘Let’s Make It Happen’, ‘Party Monkey’
. His fame is lost on her; she’s focused on getting herself and her child to safety on an island flourishing with greenery but plagued by giant animals.
The plot twist reveals that daytime travel is essential to avoid dangers that emerge at night. These hazards include a massive boar, an octopus, and a fast-moving flock of flightless birds. Laser nets and glowing structures add to the bizarre landscape, making it evident that Bando is unprepared for survival. When asked Can you shoot? Can you hunt? Do you know how to fish? Do you know how to set a trap?
, Bando’s unimpressed reply is simply I can sing
.
A Directorial Debut
This film marks Glover’s feature directorial debut. Though he previously directed a short film as Childish Gambino, his own music videos, and episodes of both Atlanta and Swarm, Bando Stone & the New World is his first foray into full-length feature films. The script for this project comes courtesy of Evi Wilder while frequent collaborator Hiro Murai, known for directing multiple episodes of Atlanta, two episodes of the 2024 Mr & Mrs Smith series, and the 2019 film Guava Island, serves as executive producer.
Expectations and Release Plans
The exact release date for Bando Stone & the New World has not yet been specified beyond 2024. However, it’s set to hit big screens in the US as an exclusive IMAX event. It remains unclear whether audiences in Australia and New Zealand will get a chance to view this highly anticipated film before Childish Gambino brings his latest tour there in 2025.
The anticipation surrounding this release ties back to Glover’s capability to seamlessly blend his musical persona with his onscreen roles, promising a film filled with unique storytelling and visual flair. As DJ Mustard pointed out about previous collaborative efforts in entertainment projects: It garnered global attention but also allowed us artists to give back to different programs based around South L.A. and put L.A. back in the driver’s seat for music
.
A Soundtrack from Gambino
Adding another layer to Glover’s creative input, the soundtrack for Bando Stone & the New World will unsurprisingly originate from Childish Gambino. This follows his trend of multi-faceted involvement in his projects, ensuring that every element of storytelling aligns with his vision.
Stay tuned for updates on this intriguing project.
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