John Boyega holds tense negotiations with Michael K Williams in Breaking trailer

Boyega plays Lance Corporal Brian Brown-Easley who holds of the public hostage inside a bank to get the attention of the world’s media
John Boyega holds tense negotiations with Michael K Williams in Breaking trailer

Mike Bedigan, PA Los Angeles Correspondent

John Boyega engages in tense and emotional negotiations with the late Michael K Williams in the new trailer for film Breaking.

Boyega plays Lance Corporal Brian Brown-Easley who holds of the public hostage inside a US bank to get the attention of the world’s media.

The film is based on the true story of Brown-Easley and his difficult transition back to civilian life.

When the veteran’s disability check fails to materialise from Veterans Affairs, he finds himself on the brink of homelessness and breaking his daughter’s heart.

With no other options he walks into a Wells Fargo Bank and declares “I’ve got a bomb”.

Williams, who died last September from a drugs overdose aged 54, plays police officer Eli Bernard.

In the trailer, released on Wednesday, Boyega tells Williams: “I need everyone to see what is happening here, I need the fire trucks, I need the news cameras”.

“What do I need to do to get the attention I need, right now?” he screams down the phone.

Williams responds calmly: “We’re going to work this out, brother to brother.”

Williams, who died last September from a drug overdose aged 54, plays police officer Eli Bernard (Alamy/PA)

Captioning the video, shared to Twitter, Boyega thanked Williams for “ing us on this journey”.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the 2022 ESPY awards in Los Angeles, he said it had been “incredible” to have the actor on the project.

He previously revealed that he had requested to work with The Wire star personally and that Williams had brought “good energy” to the film.

Breaking was awarded the jury prize for best ensemble cast at the 2022 Sundance film festival when it debuted at the festival in January.

The cast also includes Nicole Beharie, Connie Britton, Olivia Washington and Selenis Leyva.

The film is yet to be given a release date.

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