Andre Gaines’ The Dutchman brings to life a modern reinvention of the explosive 1964 play by Amiri Baraka. The film stars André Holland as Clay, a successful yet troubled Black businessman, alongside Kate Mara as Lula, the enigmatic stranger whose appearance upends his world.
Also starring in the movie are Zazie Beetz, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Aldis Hodge, and Lauren E. Banks.
Directed by Andre Gaines, making his narrative feature debut, The Dutchman world premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival (SXSW), and opens January 2, 2026 nationwide in theaters.
André Holland stars as Clay, a successful but troubled black businessman, who attends therapy sessions with his wife, Kaya, in an attempt to salvage their marriage. But their mysterious therapist is not all that he seems, and begins to unexpectedly appear to Clay outside of their sessions.
On a New York subway train, Clay encounters Lula, a seductive but sinister white stranger who slowly begins to unravel his life. Clay must discover the truth behind this encounter to get back to his wife, heal his fractured soul, and survive the night.
In this psychological thriller – a modern adaptation of the 1964 Obie Award winning play – The Dutchman brings a contemporary edge to the original, exploring themes of race and identity in America.
The film has received mixed critical reviews with The Playlist calling it “a fascinating, but flawed adaptation” writing, “What grants the film greater impact and grace is Holland, who again proves he’s one of our most mesmerizing screen presences. Just as he did in the upcoming Love, Brooklyn, he can capture his character’s multifaceted flaws and vulnerabilities with just a simple glance.”
Watch the official trailer for The Dutchman above.
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