The Council is a never before told story about a crime syndicate consisting of seven African-American men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and early 80s. No ordinary crime syndicate – the men dreamed of a self-sufficient and self-policing African American city-state, funded by revolutionizing the drug game. The movie centers on the Shakespearean court intrigue between The Council’s king, Nicky Barnes, dubbed “Mr. Untouchable” by the New York Times, and all the different members as one unlikely rising protégé emerges.
Barnes was an American crime boss who was active in New York City during the 1970’s and led an international drug trafficking ring. They were in partnership with the Italian-American Mafia, until his arrest in 1978. Barnes was sentenced to life imprisonment, eventually becoming a federal informant.
Executive producing will be Peter Landesman, Jackson Pictures’ Joanne Lee and David Lee for Anonymous Nobodies. Producing will be James Lassiter and Will Smith for Westbrook Inc.’s Overbrook Entertainment, Jackson Pictures Matt Jackson and Jason Essex for Anonymous Nobodies.
Peter Landesman will be writing.
The film will be a Netflix Exclusive with the drop date to be announced.
