Rob Peace

{{Short description|2024 American film written/directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Rob Peace

| image = Rob Peace poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| starring = Jay Will
Mary J. Blige
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Curtis Morlaye
Gbenga Akinnagbe
Michael Kelly
Mare Winningham
Camila Cabello

| producer = Antoine Fuqua
Rebecca Hobbs
Jeffrey Soros
Simon Horsman
Andrea Calderwood
Kat Samick
Alex Kurtzman
Jenny Lumet

| based_on = {{Based on|The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace|Jeff Hobbs}}

| writer = Chiwetel Ejiofor

| music = Jeff Russo

| cinematography = Ksenia Sereda

| editing = Masahiro Hirakubo

| studio = Republic Pictures{{cite web|title=‘Rob Peace’ Review: Chiwetel Ejiofor Crafts a Conventional but Stirring True Story of Talent, Struggle and Tragedy|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Lovia|last=Gyarkye|date=January 22, 2024|access-date=April 4, 2024|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rob-peace-review-chiwetel-ejiofor-1235803332/}}
Los Angeles Media Fund
Hill District Media
25 Stories
Participant
Sugar Peace Productions

| distributor = Republic Pictures

| released = {{Film date|2024|1|22|Sundance|2024|8|16|United States}}

| runtime = 119 minutes{{cite web|title=Rob Peace|website=Sundance Film Festival|access-date=December 6, 2023|url=https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/6569fa4dfac9f4390cc032ef}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross = $422,329{{Cite web |title= Rob Peace |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3976298497/?ref_=bo_da_table_17|website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=October 25, 2024}}

}}

Rob Peace is a 2024 American biographical drama film written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor and starring Ejiofor, Camila Cabello, Jay Will, and Mary J. Blige. It is based on the 2014 biography The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs.{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/rob-peace-movie-review/ |title=Rob Peace Review: Ejiofor's Sophomore Slump Features a Brilliant Performance from Jay Will |website=ScreenRant|date=January 31, 2024|first=Patrice|last=Witherspoon}}

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/23/rob-peace-chiwetel-ejiofor-sundance-film-festival |title=Rob Peace review - Chiwetel Ejiofor's moving fact-based tragedy {{!}} Sundance 2024|first=Benjamin |last=Lee|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 23, 2024}} on January 22, 2024, and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 16, 2024, by Republic Pictures. It received a nomination at the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Angelique |date=January 7, 2025 |title=NAACP Image Awards: Ayo Edebiri, Keke Palmer, GloRilla, 'The Piano Lesson' and 'Fight Night' Lead Nominations |url=https://variety.com/2025/awards/news/naacp-image-awards-nominees-ayo-edebiri-keke-palmer-glorilla-the-piano-lesson-fight-night-1236267864/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |website=Variety}}

Premise

Yale University graduate Rob Peace, known as Shaun at the time his father was arrested for crimes he may not have committed, turns to drug dealing in order to get his father out of jail while maintaining other activities.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/chiwetel-ejiofor-rob-peace-review/ |title=Rob Peace Review: An Ivy League Drug Dealer Leads a Dark Survival Story|first=Ronda Racha |last=Penrice |website= TheWrap|date=January 22, 2024}}

Cast

Jay Will as Rob Peace
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Skeet, Peace's father
Mary J. Blige as Jackie, Peace's mother
Camila Cabello as Naya
Michael Kelly as Father Edwin Leahy
Curtis Morlaye as Tavarus Heston[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10740926/characters/nm10372206?ref_=tt_cl_c_16 "Curt Morlaye: Tavarus Heston"], IMDb.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10740926/?ref_=tt_ch "Rob Peace"], IMDb.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/movies/rob-peace-review.html|title='Rob Peace' Review: Risking the Future to Remedy the Past|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Beandrea|last=July|date=August 1, 2024}}

Production

In January 2019, it was announced that Ejiofor would direct the film (after Antoine Fuqua and his wife Lela saw his directorial debut, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind).{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Los Angeles Media Fund Sets Chiwetel Ejiofor To Direct 'The Short And Tragic Life Of Robert Peace:' Antoine Fuqua Producing|date=January 25, 2019|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/chiwetel-ejiofor-directing-the-short-and-tragic-life-of-robert-peace-antoine-fuqua-los-angeles-media-fund-1202541353/|accessdate=July 5, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/chiwetel-ejiofor-rob-peace-sundance-29403c8b3476ade98e30a5a03256792a |title=In the biographical drama 'Rob Peace,' Chiwetel Ejiofor reframes a life|website=AP News|first=Lindsey|last=Bahr|date=January 21, 2024}} In February 2020, it was announced that Stephan James would play Peace and Ejiofor would play Peace's father.{{cite magazine|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title=Stephan James to Star in 'Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace' for Fuqua Films (EXCLUSIVE)|date=February 25, 2020|magazine=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/stephan-james-short-and-tragic-life-of-robert-peace-1203515284/|accessdate=July 5, 2023}}

In January 2023, it was announced that Jay Will would be cast as Peace.{{cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|title='Tulsa King's Jay Will To Topline Chiwetel Ejiofor's Second Feature 'Rob Peace'|date=January 30, 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/jay-will-to-topline-chiwetel-ejiofor-drama-rob-peace-1235244209/|accessdate=July 5, 2023}} In February 2023, it was announced that Mary J. Blige was cast as Peace's mother, Jackie. Blige also serves as the executive producer of the film.{{cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|title='Rob Peace': Mary J. Blige To Exec Produce, Star In Drama From Writer-Director Chiwetel Ejiofor|date=February 9, 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/mary-j-blige-boards-chiwetel-ejiofors-rob-peace-1235247855/|accessdate=July 5, 2023}} Later in February 2023, it was announced that Camila Cabello was also cast in the film.{{cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|title=Camila Cabello Latest To Board Chiwetel Ejiofor's Sophomore Feature 'Rob Peace'|date=February 22, 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/camila-cabello-joins-chiwetel-ejiofor-drama-rob-peace-1235249089/|accessdate=July 5, 2023}}

Filming occurred in Newark, New Jersey, particularly at St. Benedict's Preparatory School, in December 2022.{{cite web|last=Kuperinsky|first=Amy|title='The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace' movie filming in Newark with Chiwetel Ejiofor|date=December 27, 2022|website=NJ.com|url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2022/12/the-short-and-tragic-life-of-robert-peace-movie-filming-in-newark-with-chiwetel-ejiofor.html|accessdate=July 5, 2023}}

Release

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2024.{{cite web|title=Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun|website=Deadline Hollywood|first1=Anthony|first2=Dominic|last1=D'Alessandro|last2=Patten|date=6 December 2023|access-date=6 December 2023|url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/2024-sundance-film-festival-lineup-movies-1235652869/}} In May 2024, Republic Pictures, which is also handling worldwide sales, acquired North American distribution rights to the film, scheduling it for a limited theatrical release in the United States across 500 theaters on August 16, 2024.{{cite web|title=Chiwetel Ejiofor's 'Rob Peace' Acquired By Republic Pictures|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=3 June 2024|access-date=3 June 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/rob-peace-release-date-set-republic-pictures-1235957938/}} The film began streaming on Netflix on November 11, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Kasey |date=2024-10-22 |title='Rob Peace' Starring Jay Will and Mary J. Blige Sets Streaming Debut on Netflix |url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/rob-peace-starring-jay-will-and-mary-j-blige-sets-streaming-debut-on-netflix/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=What's on Netflix |language=en}}

Reception

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|75|6.4|52|Chiwetel Ejiofor acquits himself well as a writer-director with Rob Peace, a solid and steady drama that enlivens standard clichés with compelling performances.}}{{cite web|title=Rob Peace|website=Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rob_peace|accessdate=August 19, 2024}} {{Metacritic film prose|61|15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rob-peace/|title=Rob Peace|website=Metacritic|access-date=August 19, 2024}}