Executive Overview
Multi-hyphenate artist Teyana Taylor—renowned for her Golden Globe wins, Oscar nominations, and Grammy nods—is officially expanding her creative repertoire into feature-length filmmaking. Taylor is set to make her directorial debut with Get Lite, an upcoming high-energy Paramount Pictures film centered around the vibrant, high-octane subculture of Litefeet, a unique street dance style that originated in her native Harlem.
The project has officially secured a robust, star-studded ensemble cast, blending veteran prestige actors with emerging generational talent. Leading the film are rising stars Storm Reid (The Last of Us, Euphoria) and Ceyair Wright (Space Jam: A New Legacy, alongside a transition from the football gridiron to Hollywood). They will be joined by a heavyweight supporting cast featuring Tony winner and Oscar nominee Leslie Odom, Jr. (Hamilton, One Night in Miami) and Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (King Richard).
Production on Get Lite is scheduled to kick off this month in New York City, with Paramount locking in an official wide theatrical release date of April 9, 2027. Written by Maurice Williams and adapted from a 2020 Black List spec script by Eric Gross, the film promises to marry cinematic storytelling with deep-rooted cultural choreography. Behind the camera, the production features a heavyweight coalition of creative powerhouses, including Kenya Barris’s Khalabo Ink Society and Taylor’s own production banner, The Aunties.
Detailed Chronology: From Black List Script to Paramount Greenlight
The journey of Get Lite to the big screen represents a methodical synthesis of development, script refinement, and strategic casting. The project’s origins trace back to 2020, when Eric Gross penned an original spec script that immediately captured industry attention by landing on Hollywood’s prestigious Black List—an annual survey showcasing the best unproduced screenplays in the motion picture industry.
For years, the property circulated through development channels until it caught the eye of Paramount Pictures and creative minds looking to bring authentic New York street culture to a global audience. The project gained immense momentum when Teyana Taylor signed on to direct. Taylor, fresh off a string of acclaimed performances—most notably her standout work in One Battle After Another—brings a deeply personal perspective to the project. As a Harlem native, Taylor possesses an intrinsic, generational connection to Litefeet, the fast-paced, acrobatic street dance born in the upper Manhattan subway systems and parks.
Following Taylor’s attachment, Maurice Williams boarded the project to further polish and adapt Gross’s initial blueprint, ensuring the narrative tone matched the kinetic energy of the choreography. Casting announcements swiftly followed in waves. First came the pairing of Ceyair Wright—cast as a talented, sheltered student caught between two vastly different worlds—and Storm Reid, who will play the catalyst character opening Wright’s eyes to new life possibilities within the subterranean world of NYC transit.
As development accelerated, the production team finalized the core supporting architecture of the film. Leslie Odom, Jr. and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor were locked in for principal ensemble roles, lending immense dramatic weight to the youth-centric narrative. Concurrently, indie hip-hop artist Khayr Bullock, Twitch streamer Tylil James, and seasoned television actor Woody McClain (Power Book II: Ghost, The Harder They Fall) were confirmed. Meanwhile, discussions intensified for heavy-hitting talent like Jodie Turner-Smith and Asante Blackk to finalize major supporting roles.
With cameras set to roll in New York City, Paramount has anchored the film in its release calendar, scheduling a wide theatrical bow for April 9, 2027—allocating ample post-production window for a project heavily reliant on rhythm, musicality, and complex dance sequences.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Cultural and Industrial Significance of ‘Get Lite’
To understand the cultural resonance of Get Lite, one must examine the origins and evolution of Litefeet. Emerging from Harlem in the early 2000s, Litefeet evolved from the earlier "Harlem Shakedown" styles into a distinct, high-velocity dance phenomenon defined by intricate footwork, hat tricks, airborne maneuvers, and deep integration with electronic and hip-hop beats. Frequently performed on crowded New York City subway cars—famously announced by the phrase, "It’s showtime!"—Litefeet is more than just a dance; it is an expression of survival, joy, community, and resilience among urban youth. By anchoring her directorial debut in this specific subculture, Taylor ensures the film serves as both narrative entertainment and cultural preservation.
From an industrial standpoint, Get Lite represents a major collaborative victory for inclusive, multifaceted production banners. The film is a joint creative effort involving prominent production companies dedicated to amplifying diverse voices:
- Storm Reid is pulling double duty, stepping in front of the camera as a star while also producing through her banner, A Seed & Wings Productions, alongside producing partner Robyn Simpson.
- Kenya Barris and Anni Weisband are producing via Khalabo Ink Society, bringing Barris’s mainstream industry clout and systemic production apparatus to the table.
- Bill Karesh is producing on behalf of Offbrnd.
- Teyana Taylor and Courtney “Coco” Gilbert are spearheading the project under their collective production banner, The Aunties.
The high-caliber talent representation further underscores the prestige of the production. The principal and supporting actors boast representation from elite Hollywood agencies and legal firms:
- Teyana Taylor: Represented by WME, Taylor Made Management, and the Lede Company.
- Storm Reid: Represented by CAA, the Lede Company, and Granderson Des Rochers.
- Leslie Odom, Jr.: Represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen.
- Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor: Represented by CAA and TMT Entertainment Group.
- Woody McClain: Represented by Buchwald, M88, Align PR, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
- Jodie Turner-Smith: Represented by UTA, the Lede Company, 111 Media, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
- Asante Blackk: Represented by Gersh, 1v1 Entertainment, the Lede Company, and Del Shaw Moonves.
Official Statements and Industry Reception
While traditional studio press conferences regarding the film’s minute-by-minute creative direction remain tightly guarded, industry insiders and talent representatives have expressed overwhelming enthusiasm for the venture. Taylor’s transition from a dynamic musical and acting career into the director’s chair has been heavily anticipated by peers and critics alike, particularly given her extensive background in choreographing and directing her own visually arresting music videos and stage performances.
The casting choices have also drawn praise from Hollywood analysts. Pairing established dramatic heavyweights like Leslie Odom, Jr. and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor alongside Gen-Z icons Storm Reid and Ceyair Wright points toward a multi-generational appeal. This strategy aims to draw younger audiences through digital and television fandoms while capturing prestige-moviegoers through decorated Academy Award and Tony-nominated pedigree.
Paramount’s decision to grant the film an early spring wide theatrical release—April 9, 2027—signals a high level of executive confidence in the finished product’s commercial viability. Rather than relegating the dance drama to a quiet late-summer dump month or an exclusive streaming release, the studio is positioning Get Lite as a major theatrical event capable of commanding box office attention during the competitive spring corridor.
Future Outlook: What’s Next for ‘Get Lite’ and Its Creators
As Get Lite commences principal photography in New York City this month, the immediate focus shifts to capturing the kinetic, demanding choreography required to bring the Harlem Litefeet scene to life on the silver screen. Given that the subculture is intrinsically tied to the physical geography of New York—its concrete pavements, underground stations, and echoing subway cars—shooting on location is expected to imbue the film with an authentic grittiness and vitality.
Beyond production, the film’s roadmap through 2026 will involve extensive post-production, sound mixing, and editorial pacing designed to match the rapid beats of hip-hop and electronic subway music. With its release date set for April 2027, Paramount will likely begin rolling out teaser campaigns, first-look images, and promotional trailers late next year, testing audience appetite for a modern dance-centric narrative that bridges the gap between raw underground art and mainstream cinematic spectacle.
For Teyana Taylor, the success of Get Lite could cement her status not only as a formidable onscreen presence, but as a major visionary director capable of guiding large-scale studio pictures. For stars like Storm Reid and Ceyair Wright, the project offers a definitive vehicle to showcase their range as both performers and behind-the-scenes architects. As production ramps up in the heart of New York City, all eyes in the entertainment industry remain fixed on how this unique synthesis of Harlem culture, elite talent, and studio backing will translate to the ultimate cinematic canvas.
