Famed actor Don Cheadle returns to the silver screen to premiere a rarely told story. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the House of Lies star breathes life into the legacy of Wall Street’s first black millionaire, Jeremiah G. Hamilton.
The script takes its cue from Shane White’s 2015 book, Prince of Darkness: The Untold Story of Jeremiah G. Hamilton, Wall Street’s First Black Millionaire. Migrating from Haiti to New York in the 19th century, Hamilton landed a profitable career as a broker and made his way to tycoon status by purchasing railroad stock. Given the deadly racial climate during that time period, Hamilton received opposition after he married a white woman and lived in a lucrative area of New Jersey.
Cheadle re-teams with Miles Ahead collaborator Steven Baigelman, who will adapt the book for film format. In addition to starring in the movie, Cheadle will serve as producer and writer.
Okayplayer states that Hamilton was worth $2 million when he died. That’s equivalent to $42 million in present time.