Jay-Z premieres biblical comedy ‘The Book of Clarence’

“The Book of Clarence” is a 2023 American epic biblical comedy-drama film. The premise of the film centers around a struggling man named Clarence, living in A.D. 33 Jerusalem, who attempts to capitalize on the rise of Jesus Christ by claiming to be a new Messiah. This act is part of his scheme to free himself of debt and carve a path to glory for himself. The film stars LaKeith Stanfield in the dual roles of Clarence and Thomas, one of the twelve apostles and Clarence’s twin brother. The cast also includes notable names such as Omar Sy, Anna Diop, RJ Cyler, David Oyelowo, Micheal Ward, Alfre Woodard, and James McAvoy, among others.

Directed by Jeymes Samuel, “The Book of Clarence” draws inspiration from classic biblical epics like “The Ten Commandments” and “Ben-Hur.” Filming began in November 2022 in Matera, Italy. The movie had its world premiere at the 67th London Film Festival on October 11, 2023, and was set for theatrical release on January 12, 2024. It received positive early reviews, with a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 64 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating generally favorable reviews