First Trailer for Kasi Lemmons' 'Black Nativity' Starring Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett

Kasi Lemmons has been splitting her time between acting and directing, although she's shown considerably more promise behind the camera rather than in front. Six years ago she directed the ace Petey Greene biopic, Talk To Me, which she was largely ignored for even as it brought Don Cheadle some well-deserved attention. Now she's back with her most ambitious project yet, adapting Langston Hughes' holiday musical, Black Nativity.

It wasn't that long ago it looked as if the film was dead in the water, after the departure of Samuel L. Jackson left a major hole in the star power department. But Forest Whitaker took over and now the first trailer has arrived, months before it hits theaters around Thanksgiving. Whitaker and Angela Bassett are grandparents in Harlem whose grandson is sent from Baltimore to spend the holidays with them to learn about faith and family. Jennifer Hudson is their estranged daughter, while the rest of the cast features Tyrese Gibson, Mary J. Blige (because of course), Nas, and Jacob Lattimore. 

Hughes' stageplay was unique for taking traditioncal Christmas carols and giving them a gospel twist, while the film has a more R&B-inspired flavor. It's going to be a challenge for Lemmons to get the tone just right, and the trailer isn't totally clear whether she pulls it off, but if anyone can it's her. 

Black Nativity opens on November 27th.