We already know that Letitia Wright steals nearly every scene she’s in. In her new action Western, Surrounded, Wright is front and center as Mo Washington, a woman fighting off numerous dangerous men in the middle of the desert in order to secure her future.
Wright not only stars in Surrounded, but she also serves as a producer through her company, 3.16 Productions. I had the chance to speak with Wright about the film, and she talked about how being a producer gave her a greater appreciation for how to craft a film.
Wright described her character as someone who goes against the grain, and said that she hopes that audiences will watch the film and be inspired to stand up and fight when life knocks them down. Referencing the popular Japanese proverb about resilience, Wright said “If you get knocked down seven times, you have to get up eight” and encouraged people to fight for their dreams.
“You get knocked down, your dreams nearly get stolen, you find yourself in the middle of the desert with all these white guys that are trying to challenge you, be like Mo Washington and stand up for yourself!” Wright said.
Check out our full conversation below and watch Surrounded, available now on digital!
Five years after the Civil War, freedwoman and former Buffalo Soldier Moses “Mo” Washington travels west to lay claim on a gold mine- the summation of years of toil for Mo and her community. It is a mean, dangerous world for an unaccompanied Black woman in 1870 America and so Mo travels into the deep frontier disguised as a man. After her stagecoach is ambushed by a group of murderous thieves, Mo is forced to hold legendary outlaw Tommy Walsh captive while the remaining surviving passengers seek out help. What ensues is a battle of wills, blurring the line between captor and captive, as they both try to survive the harsh western landscape. Directed by Anthony Mandler and written by Andrew Pagana & Justin Thomas and Andrew Pagana, the film stars Letitia Wright, Jamie Bell, Jeffrey Donovan with Brett Gelman and Michael K. Williams.
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
