The short film The Distinguished has officially landed on The Roku Channel.
The short film about a supernatural mystery and HBCU-inspired fantasy, Directed and co-written by Rickey Castleberry and Rodney Wilkins, premiered on September 6, 2024, With its release on Roku, The Distinguished is set to reach an even larger audience.
The Distinguished follows Sevyn, a college freshman whose transition to life at a prestigious HBCU takes an unexpected turn when he begins receiving cryptic messages in his dreams. These supernatural warnings push him to uncover a hidden family legacy that ties him to a mysterious force far greater than he could have imagined.
The film’s cast includes Harold Perrineau (The Best Man Franchise, FROM, Lost), Tracie Thoms (Devil Wears Prada, Rent, 9-1-1), Jabbar Lewis (Emancipation), Jonathan Burke (Harlem), Tosin Morohunfula (Run The World, Bass Reeves), Charles Smith (9-1-1, All American), Shawn Carter Peterson (Pretty Freekin Scary), Luke Youngblood (Harry Potter), Gentry White (Leopard Skin, UnReal), and Chris West.
Also in the film is a remake of the gospel classic Wade in the Water, composed by Stephen and Lauren Suckarie, Cameron Forbes, Rickey Castleberry, Patrick Robertson, and Kheil Harrison.
“As a filmmaker, this is the dream: aligning with a global distributor like The Roku Channel and collaborating with a team of visionary executives who recognize and support my creative vision,” Castleberry shared about the film’s debut on Roku. “With Roku’s platform, I have the opportunity to showcase my work and connect with millions of sci-fi and fantasy enthusiasts. This is more than a milestone. It’s the dawn of something extraordinary. This is the beginning of The Distinguished.”
Castleberry is a multi-hyphenate creative who has built a career that spans acting, writing, producing, and directing. His production company, Do Good, is dedicated to telling original stories that amplify the voices of the Black diaspora. He recently penned a fantasy/sci-fi novel, The Distinguished: The Tale of Making a Gentleman, further expanding his supernatural universe.
The Distinguished is now available to stream for free, with no subscription or sign-up required. Viewers can watch on Roku devices, TheRokuChannel.com, iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TVs, Samsung TVs, Google TVs, and other Android TV OS devices.
Check out the trailer.
